Blues wide player tests positive for coronavirus

RONAN CURTIS will miss Saturday’s League One trip to Fleetwood Town after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Pompey winger is now self-isolating in accordance with government and EFL guidelines.

Curtis missed the Blues’ FA Cup defeat at Bristol City on Sunday after feeling unwell before the third-round tie.

The Irishman had tested negative for Covid-19 – along with the rest of his team-mates – on the Tuesday ahead of the Ashton Gate encounter.

However, Curtis was again absent for the 5-1 loss at Peterborough United in the Papa John’s Trophy last night.

Kenny Jackett confirmed after the game that the former Derry man had contracted coronavirus, having received his result yesterday afternoon.

The Pompey boss said: ‘Our next round of testing is later this week. I’m not sure which day but it will be before we go to Fleetwood.

‘We will be testing this week. It was last week and we’ve had one round since then.

‘We won’t be taking anybody that does test positive up to Fleetwood and will take very good care of people and make sure people have no symptoms.

‘It’s a combination of all of those things. Like we did with Ronan before the Bristol City game, it will be prevention that will help us.

‘Ronan was off later in the week and you have a full testing kit. This week, we will see how they go and how they respond.

‘Ronan’s situation is he’s had independent tests on different days. Because he had symptoms, we tested him differently to the rest of the group.

‘We think we have been diligent, we have followed the protocols and he is in isolation.

‘He is okay and will certainly need to isolate until Sunday. As things stand he’s okay to then come back.’