Lee Johnson response when quizzed over whether Sunderland would consider shutting training ground

Sunderland had one positive test on Tuesday, forcing seven others to self-isolate, with two of those displaying symptoms. A total of eight players missed the 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon.

The Black Cats could have opted to postpone the game, as Bristol Rovers did following an outbreak of their own.

However, they were told that doing so would lead to an EFL investigation, and a potential sanction.

The club is now waiting on further test results and there is the possibility the training ground may have to close as well.

Johnson was asked whether Sunderland would now consider shutting their training ground, as had happened at Newcastle United following a recent outbreak.

“Shutting the training ground has to be a consideration," he said.

"It has to be. It’s depend on how the tests come back. Obviously we know what happened at Newcastle, although the Premier League runs on very different protocols.

"The consistency of the testing, which was the same in the Championship, becomes an important part of it. Obviously the funding hasn’t been there, and that’s what I’m saying.

"The EFL won’t give you the funding to do the testing, but then at the same time, they won’t help you out when there’s a circumstance that happens.

"It’s almost like we’ve been punished for doing the right protocols.

"That’s how it feels. I’m saying, ‘If you’re going to make us play, then the ones that weren’t COVID-19 should be allowed to play’. The ones that have been left out by association.

"That for me is the most frustrating bit. To get the three points in this game, we’d have been better off telling people to pretend they were 30 yards away from people. But we haven’t. We’ve done it properly, but then we haven’t been helped out."

Sunderland are due to travel to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday afternoon in League One and host Blackpool at the Stadium of Light next Tuesday evening ahead of the busy festive schedule.

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