MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 11:54:46| >> :120:54950:54950:

Brighton have third player test positive for coronavirus

Brighton have third player test positive for coronavirus
© Reuters
The unamed player will go into 14-day isolation while he recovers from the virus.

A third Brighton player has tested positive for coronavirus, the PA news agency understands.

The unnamed player will go into 14-day isolation while he recovers from the virus.

The rest of the squad will continue to train as they have been doing during the lockdown, both at home and in solo sessions at the club's training ground.

Two other players, whose names have also not been revealed by the club, contracted the virus earlier in the pandemic. They are understood to have since recovered but it is not clear whether or not they have returned to training yet.

The news comes as Seagulls technical director Dan Ashworth has called for players' safety to be on top of the agenda at Monday's Premier League meeting.

Clubs will meet for a crunch vote on Project Restart's plans to complete the Premier League season at neutral venues – something Brighton have been vocally critical of.

The PA news agency understands that is the only issue of the planned resumption that Brighton are against and want the chance to secure survival on the pitch.

It is understood they are against the idea of the current sides occupying the bottom three – Norwich, Watford and Aston Villa – to be relegated if the season cannot be completed.

Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth says players' safety needs to be the top priority
Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth says players' safety needs to be the top priority (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Ashworth insists that player safety is the main issue to be addressed, with Sunday's third diagnosis of one of his players sure to bring that into further focus.

"The safety of players and staff is top of that list, everyone's working hard to minimise risk for those groups," he told the club's official website.

"Then there's a series of things: Where will the games be played? When can we start? When can the players train to make sure they're not at risk of injury? How will the games be aired?

"The most important thing is safety, then you can look at the whole thing and discuss how it can all look, it's about putting together the pieces of the jigsaw once we have a better idea of what the plan looks like."

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish is backing Premier League clubs to come to a consensus.

Aston Villa and Watford have joined Brighton in speaking out against plans to play the remaining 92 games at neutral venues and it is sure to be a point of contention.

But Parish hopes clubs can unite.

"There are no easy answers, we have to work through it as a collective and I think we will and come out with a consensus in the end," he said on The Andrew Marr Show.

Palace chairman Steve Parish hopes clubs can come to a consensus at Monday's meeting
Palace chairman Steve Parish hopes clubs can come to a consensus at Monday's meeting (Richard Sellers/PA)

"(The meeting) is another part of the journey in trying to get football back. We would be derelict in our duty if we did not find a way for the game to come back.

"It may prove beyond us, we have huge challenges in order to get it back to complete the season but we are planning on doing so."

The Premier League will have a keen eye on how things pan out in Germany, who are due to restart their top two leagues next weekend.

However, that could now be in doubt after Bundesliga 2 side Dynamo Dresden went into a 14-day quarantine after two players tested positive for coronavirus and their match has been postponed.

Parish added: "Hopefully we have the German situation going on, if that is successful that could provide a blueprint for us.

"We are hoping it is successful. Clearly we can see some of the early challenges, they may prove insurmountable.

"The concern for us is if they prove insurmountable now, we may be in for a very, very extended period of not being able to play and that has huge ramifications for the game."

ID:398987: cacheID:398987:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9137:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Luka Modric celebrates scoring their third goal with Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior on January 4, 2020
Read Next:
Luka Modric 'to make own decision on Real Madrid future'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!