Magpies are handed Mig boost over World Cup
NEWCASTLE United have avoided any potential difficult situation with Miguel Almiron after the Conmebol council have confirmed that World Cup qualifiers in South America have been postponed.
Several Premier League clubs had already decided not to release their players at the end of March due to current self-isolation rules in the UK.
In the UK, anyone returning from coronavirus ‘red list’ countries, which includes Portugal, all of South America and parts of Africa, is required to quarantine for 10 days, without exception.
As a result, clubs could have been without star players for any matches scheduled directly after the international break, which runs from March 22 to April 1.
While Almiron is currently injured an unlikely to have been available, Magpies head coach Steve Bruce was concerned Paraguay would have been able to call up him regardless.
“I think the whole of the Premier League and EFL are looking at this situation,” Bruce said in his Press conference ahead of the game with West Brom.
“Whether you’re injured or not, it seems pretty ludicrous to me, but we’ll have to look at it and see what we’re going to do.
“We’re going to be led by other people on that, and not just with Miggy because he’s injured, but also what they’re going to do across the board around the international players.
“With a pandemic going on, I wouldn’t have thought we’d want players playing halfway around the world. It’s something we’ll have to look at.”
Premier League clubs discussed the issue at a meeting last week, deciding it will be up to individual clubs how they choose to proceed in line with government and Fifa guidelines.
Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Bruce had all aired their frustrations at the scenario but now the problem has been solved, with the matches cancelled.