Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Covid crisis is no show says United
MARK Reynolds was expecting coronavirus to land on Dundee United’s doorstep at some point.
However, maybe not to the extent it has done.
The Tangerines will go into today’s Premiership match away to Livingston without nine players, who are self-isolating after three members of the club’s backroom team tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week.
Also, the entire first-team coaching staff – including manager Micky Mellon – will be missing for the same reason.
Thomas Courts, the academy head of tactical performance at Tannadice, has been placed in charge of the Livi match and took training on Thursday and Friday (see left).
Courts will be in the dugout along with other academy staff and it will be a case of wait and see which players he has at his disposal.
Amidst the mayhem, captain Mark Reynolds had an air of calm about him when looking ahead to the game.
The central defender felt it was just a matter of time before something like this affected the club.
He said: “In terms of us, the players, we’ve been going through this whole protocol since we came back for pre-season.
“So while it’s disappointing, for us it wasn’t really a massive shock.
“When you look at other clubs and you see how rampant coronavirus has been across the world I think we felt – I know I certainly did – that it would come to our own doorstep at one point.
“I always felt we would have to deal with it at some point. We were tested on Tuesday as normal this week. The statement the club sent out pretty much covers what happened next.
“The decision was taken not to train on Wednesday and we were all back in on Thursday.
“It’s something we as players can’t influence or get involved in.
“We just have to make sure we’re prepared for today’s game.”
Courts has stressed the changeover of coaching staff has been seamless and Reynolds backed him up.
The defender said: “Tam and
Adam (Asghar), the U/18 coaches, came in on Thursday and the boys just sort of got on with it.
“We’ve all been in this position where we are working with things that are outwith our control.
“I have been at clubs where the manager has been sacked.
“As a player, all you can do is focus on training.
“Train well and prepare for the game – that’s been our mindset since the start of the week and that hasn’t changed.”
Reynolds, already a central character as captain, is ready to assume a greater leadership role