ENGLAND ROCKED BY COVID CHAOS
Chelsea pair set to miss Czech clash
MASON MOUNT and Ben Chilwell look set to miss England’s clash with Czech Republic after a day of Euros Covid chaos.
England manager Gareth Southgate – whose team have now qualified for the last 16 after last night’s results – conceded there is a “high possibility” the Chelsea pair will sit out the Wembley game after they were listed by the FA as possible close contacts of Scotland’s Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19 yesterday.
Mount, who has played every minute of England’s two games, and Chilwell, who has yet to feature, both tested negative but spent time with their Chelsea team-mate in the tunnel
after Friday’s 0-0 draw between England and Scotland. They are self-isolating as a precaution while they await a final decision by Public Health England over whether their exposure was sufficient for them to be required to continue to do so.
Southgate said: “We’ve got to follow the guidelines and if there is any risk with these two players then we’ve got to make sure we don’t put any other players at risk.
“But the ins and outs of what would classify as being contact… they are the discussions that are ongoing. We don’t know at this point whether they might be OK for tomorrow, or they could be out for 10 days.”
Gilmour, who has no symptoms, will miss Scotland’s game against Croatia tonight and their last-16 tie if they progress as he selfisolates for 10 days. No other Scotland player has been required to sit out the game.
Mount and Chilwell, above, should be able to return to training on Thursday even if they are deemed close contacts, as long as they continue to pass daily tests.