Cavani and Darlow among isolating players as Covid hits opening weekend
Covid-19 is threatening to disrupt the opening weekend of the new Premier League season as players isolate and supporters face restrictions that could affect attendances.
James Rodriguez is one of five Everton players who will miss today’s game against Southampton as they isolate.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Manchester United manager, will be without Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard, Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo, all of whom are isolating, in addition to Dean Henderson, who is still struggling with the virus a month after testing positive, in addition to other absentees.
Norwich City will be without Poland winger Przemyslaw Placheta against Liverpool today after he contracted Covid-19.
Karl Darlow is unavailable for Newcastle’s game against West Ham at St James’ Park tomorrow after losing a stone and a half during his battle with the virus, which led to the 30-year-old goalkeeper being admitted to hospital for almost a week.
The captains of the 20 top-flight clubs were this week told by deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-tam, that they could not “outrun” Covid-19 and were advised that they and their team-mates should get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.
And Steve Bruce, the Newcastle manager, has echoed those calls after seeing the effect the virus has had on Darlow, who would have been in line to start against West Ham with regular No 1 Martin Dubravka injured.
Jamaal Lascelles, Federico Ferby nandez and Allan Saint-maximin, Darlow’s Newcastle team-mates, all suffered with the virus last season, too, and Bruce says their experiences have left him in little doubt that all young people should get double jabbed.
“It’s well documented that he’s [Darlow] been suffering with Covid and for any young people out there who are not having this jab, there’s a prime example,” Bruce said.
“Karl found himself in hospital for the best part of a week, he’s dropped over a stone and a half in weight and it’s really knocked him around.
“There’s a 30-year-old who was admitted to hospital by this thing – young, fit, healthy and it’s left him in a very, very poorly situation. He’s getting a little bit stronger, bit by bit, but it basically wiped him out, so just because you’re under the age of 30, you’re not immune to it.
“There we have evidence in our squad of how sick even young people can get. We’ll give him as much time as he wants.”
Crowds will return to Premier League football this weekend for the first time since March last year but plans for clubs to carry out random spot-checks of fans’ Covid-19 status could lead to some disruption and yet see some supporters turned away from grounds.
Some clubs, including Brighton, Chelsea and Tottenham, are insisting on fans producing evidence they have received both vaccines or proof of a negative lateral flow test in the last 48 hours in order to gain entry to the stadium.
This is in anticipation of the possibility of the government making such requirements mandatory from October.
Old Trafford will be on additional alert with police calling for fans to behave responsibly as United face bitter rivals Leeds at home in front of a full house for the first time since an FA Cup tie in January 2010.
Both games last season following Leeds’ return to the top flight were played behind closed doors. As many as 200 officers will be on duty as part of a large-scale security operation, with the game given high-risk Category C status by Greater Manchester Police.
Leeds are expected to bring 3,000 supporters for the first league meeting between the clubs with fans at Old Trafford since 2004.