Everton v Newcastle joins growing list of Covid postponements

Everton’s match in opposition to Newcastle on Thursday has been postponed as a result of a Covid outbreak within the Magpies squad, the Premier League has introduced.

Newcastle had gone into Monday’s conflict in opposition to Manchester United with their squad already depleted by optimistic checks and accidents, then additionally shedding Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin to damage in the course of the 1-1 draw.

A press release from the Premier League on Tuesday night learn: “Everton’s match in opposition to Newcastle at Goodison Park, as a result of be performed at 1930 on Thursday December 30, has regrettably been postponed.

“The board accepted Newcastle’s postponement software because the membership doesn’t have the required variety of gamers accessible for the match (13 outfield gamers and one goalkeeper), as a result of Covid-19 circumstances and accidents.

“The board was in a position to make its determination prematurely of the fixture to provide readability to the affected golf equipment and their followers. We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption brought about to supporters’ festive plans.”

Our sport at residence to Newcastle United on Thursday has been postponed after the Premier League Board granted the guests’ request as a result of an outbreak of COVID-19 circumstances and accidents of their squad.

Extra data: https://t.co/Xu5xBqhT7G pic.twitter.com/nKKWuzBftF

— Everton (@Everton) December 28, 2021

The postponement is the newest to affect on the top-flight schedule, with Tuesday’s video games between Arsenal and Wolves in addition to Leeds versus Aston Villa additionally not in a position to be performed.

“The league is conscious that the selections within the final week to postpone matches will disappoint supporters, and understands their frustrations at a particular time of yr when followers look ahead to attending and watching soccer video games,” the Premier League assertion continued.

“The league goals to offer as a lot readability as doable, however sadly postponements generally need to be made at quick discover, as security is our precedence. The place doable, the league will endeavour to maintain supporters up to date if video games grow to be in danger on a matchday.

“The board assesses purposes to postpone matches on a case-by-case foundation, primarily based on current guidelines and tailored Covid-19 postponement steerage, applied in mild of the brand new omicron variant.

“The board will assess a lot of components, together with the power of a membership to area a crew; the standing, severity and potential affect of the Covid-19 outbreak on the membership; and the power of the gamers to soundly put together for and play the match. The board should additionally take into account the broader dangers to the opposition and different folks the membership representatives might come into contact with.”

The variety of matches initially scheduled for Wednesday however postponed as a result of coronavirus outbreaks mounted all through Tuesday, with 19 in England now having been referred to as off.

The Yorkshire derby between Sheffield United and Hull, within the Sky Wager Championship, was amongst these to fall sufferer.

Simply 11 fixtures stay on throughout the divisions, together with each scheduled video games within the Premier League. Leaders Manchester Metropolis are as a result of go to Brentford whereas third-placed Chelsea are at residence to Brighton.

Hull introduced their journey to Bramall Lane had joined an inventory of postponed Championship video games which already included Birmingham v Peterborough, Studying v Fulham and Swansea v Luton.

League One has now seen the postponement of six video games. These already referred to as off at Burton and Charlton had been joined on Tuesday by the MK Dons v Cheltenham, Plymouth v Portsmouth, Wigan v Fleetwood and Rotherham v Lincoln fixtures.

Plymouth have additionally had their New 12 months’s Day conflict with AFC Wimbledon referred to as off, whereas Fleetwood’s journey to Sunderland on January 2 has gone the identical approach.

Rotherham confirmed their postponement in an announcement explaining Lincoln had fallen sufferer to a Covid outbreak.

“Lincoln Metropolis knowledgeable the Millers and the EFL on Tuesday afternoon that they’d be unable to fulfil the fixture at AESSEAL New York Stadium as a result of a lot of optimistic Covid-19 circumstances of their squad,” learn a Rotherham assertion.

“At current, Rotherham aren’t conscious of any optimistic circumstances inside our personal taking part in squad.”

League Two has been hit significantly onerous with solely two of the deliberate 11 fixtures remaining.

Tranmere’s go to to Hartlepool, Colchester’s journey to Sutton and the conflict between Rochdale and Port Vale had been the newest to go.

Colchester have additionally been hit by Covid-19 and the membership stated in an announcement: “Just like the Orient fixture on Boxing Day, all the pieces doable was executed to make sure that the fixture might happen however accidents and optimistic Covid-19 circumstances throughout the U’s squad meant there isn’t the enough variety of gamers accessible with a purpose to fulfil the fixture.”