Saints in a keeper quandary

St Mirren’s Premiership match against Hibernian this afternoon (3pm) will go ahead despite Covid-19 issues ruling out the Buddies’ three goalkeepers.

The Paisley club confirmed earlier in the week that their number one goalkeeper Jak Alnwick had tested positive for coronavirus before confirming on Thursday night that a second unnamed player had also contracted the virus.

A statement from the SPFL-SFA joint response group last night confirmed that a second goalkeeper – Dean Lyness or Peter Urminsky are the other two keepers in the squad – had also tested positive.

While the third goalkeeper had tested negative he will also have to sit out the match as a precautionary measure, leaving Saints boss Jim Goodwin having to play a youth keeper or go for an emergency loan.

St Mirren’s Premiership match against Hibs today will go ahead despite Covid-19 issues ruling out the Buddies’ three first choice goalkeepers.

The Paisley club confirmed earlier in the week that number one Jak Alnwick had tested positive for coranvirus before confirming on Thursday night that a second unnamed player had also contracted the virus.

A statement from the joint response group confirmed that a second keeper – Dean Lyness or Peter Urminsky are the other two keepers in the squad – had also tested positive.

While the third keeper had tested negative he will also have to sit out the match as a precautionary measure, leaving Saints boss Jim Goodwin to play a youth keeper or go for an emergency loan.

The JRG statement said the two players who tested positive “will be excluded from the squad for 10 days and pending the return of negative tests” while the third goalkeeper “may have the virus in incubation (and so) will also be excluded as a precaution”.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: “This demonstrates the current testing regime is working, by detecting positive tests expeditiously, enabling the appropriate health boards to implement test and protect protocols that isolates those individuals, but allows football to continue safely and with confidence.”