Steve Bruce issues concerning update on Newcastle United Covid-19 absentees

A number of players are still recovering from Covid-19 following the recent training ground outbreak ahead of tomorrow's Premier League home game against Scott Parker's 18th-placed side.

“We don’t ave any new injury concerns,” said head coach Bruce. “We’ve still got four or five of squad missing through illness. It’s a difficult time in that respect. We’ve certainly got one or two who are finding it a struggle.

“The one thing we’re finding is that the virus leaves you fatigued. Not just fatigue, they’ve got other symptoms too. I don’t know. It’s a difficult one. It won’t be a week or two, it’ll be longer than that.”

A number of players, including Jamaal Lascelles, Allan Saint-Maximin, Javier Manquillo and Fabian Schar, missed Wednesday night’s 5-2 defeat to Leeds United.

Reflecting on the performance at Elland Road, Bruce said: “There’s no doubt it was a poor goal, the third one. We’ve got caught in our own box and got punished.

"The fourth one and fifth one, I can understand as we were chasing the game. When we equalised I thought we’d given ourselves a wonderful opportunity to win the match.

“We’ve scored twice away from home. At the forward end of the pitch, we’re starting to look a threat, but we have to get that balance right, and make sure we defend better as a team.”

Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League table with 17 points.