COVID-19: Newcastle postpone Premier League clash with Aston Villa due to outbreak at training ground
It is the first time coronavirus has caused a top-flight match in England to be called off this season.
Tuesday 1 December 2020 19:48, UK
Newcastle's Premier League match against Aston Villa on Friday has been postponed due to a "significant increase in COVID-19 cases" at the North East club's training centre.
It is the first time coronavirus has caused a top-flight match in England to be called off this season.
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A Premier League statement read: "Newcastle lodged a request with the Premier League to rearrange the game following a significant increase in COVID-19 cases at the club which resulted in Public Health England North East (PHE) advising that their training facilities remain closed.
"The Premier League Board agreed, as a consequence, that the club are unable to train and adequately and safely prepare for their match on Friday.
"The decision has been taken in consultation with Newcastle United and Aston Villa - and following extensive consultation with PHE and Premier League medical advisers, with the health of players and staff the priority."
The 2019-20 campaign went into hibernation back in March and did not return until Project Restart in June, as the first national lockdown began to ease.
The current season kicked off in September and had until now gone off without a hitch, with fans set to be allowed back into some stadiums from this month - depending on which tier of England's new restrictions they fall into.
Newcastle's squad was due to travel down to Villa Park in Birmingham for Friday's match, for an 8pm kick-off.
Birmingham falls into Tier 3, which means Villa Park will still be unable to welcome supporters for the foreseeable future.
A Newcastle United statement read: "Several Newcastle United players and staff members are now self-isolating at home after returning positive test results in recent days and the club's training centre site has been temporarily closed in order to contain the spread of the virus.
"With the Magpies' first team currently unable to prepare for the match as a group, Newcastle United lodged a request with the Premier League to postpone the fixture at Villa Park, which has been approved by the Premier League board."
Newcastle were last in action on Friday 27 November, away at Crystal Palace.
Head coach Steve Bruce led his side to a 2-0 victory in south London, taking the Magpies to 13th in the table.