Manchester United produce MORE positive Covid tests after round of testing

Manchester United staff have returned further positive tests as the club battles to contain their Covid-19 outbreak.

After Tuesday's game with Brentford was postponed, United are continuing to keep the Premier League informed amid concerns their Saturday lunchtime fixture against Brighton is also in doubt.

First team players returned to their Carrington training base at 10am on Wednesday after being ordered to stay away for 24 hours following a number of positive tests on Monday.

They undertook a series of lateral flow and PCR tests before being cleared to train but subsequently some were sent home after testing positive.

Staff put on a limited training session which also included younger players, who had been drafted in to boost numbers, and there are fears they may have to ask for Saturday's fixture to be called off as they monitor the squad's health.

The Premier League had staff present at Carrington on Wednesday to monitor which protocols are being adhered to as the latest outbreak threatens to disrupt clubs across the country.

There was some concern expressed that although United stated first team operations were shut down and staff were kept away on Tuesday to minimise risk of further infection, there were still over 130 staff on the Carrington site that day from the women's squad, the U18s and U23s who trained and had their Christmas dinners.

Manager Ralf Rangnick and his backroom staff supervised training on Wednesday while some players also continued to work on rehabilitation from injuries.

United say they are in regular contact with the Premier League but it is understood they aren't expecting any of the players affected by Covid-19 to be available this weekend.

Burnley's home match against Watford was postponed on Wednesday after an outbreak in the visitors' squad.

Burnley made the announcement on social media at 5pm, with the game scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm.

The Premier League said Watford had 'an insufficient number of first-team players available to fulfil the match'.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte and Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers have both confirmed they asked for their match due to take place on Thursday to be called off due to Covid-19 outbreaks at both clubs, only for the Premier League to insist the game had to go ahead.

United's opponents on Saturday, Brighton, have also had issues with positive tests.