Warnock sidelined by Covid

MIDDLESBROUGH boss Neil Warnock has caught Covid-19 – and key club figures are being tested to ensure the virus has not spread.

Warnock, 71, is now in isolation and said to be in “good spirits” working on transfer deals from home.

But it leaves Boro without their leader for tomorrow’s Championship home game against Bournemouth and the trip to QPR next weekend.

He is the oldest manager in the EFL and is in more danger than a player who contracts the virus.

However Warnock (above) trains every day and is a keen cyclist, keeping fit on the lanes around Boro’s training ground. Warnock watched Boro get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Barnsley on Tuesday from a corporate box at the Riverside because he was feeling unwell. His positive test raises the possibility of those in close contact with him also becoming ill, including the players.

Boro are testing Warnock’s coaches and staff members who have spent 15 minutes indoors in close contact with him, following Government guidelines. There are no plans to test the entire squad.

Assistants Kevin Blackwell and firstteam coach Ronnie Jepson (inset) are being checked and will take charge of training and the match tomorrow if they are given the all-clear.

Over the summer and after the restart, the EFL carried out 27,396 tests across 24 Championship clubs, and leagues One and Two play-off sides. There were only 59 positives, 0.2 per cent of tests.

Meanwhile, Hull City’s crowd pilot tomorrow has been cancelled amid a rising number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

The League One game against Crewe was one of eight in the EFL allowing 1,000 supporters to attend.