Crystal Palace’s players were barred from indoor areas at the training ground and made to change in their cars after facing Covid-hit Newcastle - but they have escaped any positive tests.
The Eagles took immediate action to keep their players separated after learning last weekend’s opponents had suffered an outbreak of the virus.
Three Newcastle players who featured during their 2-0 win at Selhurst Park last Friday were later confirmed to be infected. Last night’s trip to Aston Villa was postponed on Tuesday with around 10 individuals at the club having tested positive.
There were fears that Palace, too, could be affected by the spread, but manager Roy Hodgson says preventive measures were very quickly put in place.
‘There was concern,' he said. 'Our doctor and team liaison officer did exceptionally well in making certain we quickly realised it would be difficult for us to operate before we were tested.
‘They worked hard to make sure the players came in to training in their own cars. They were changed in their cars and we didn’t have the usual breakfast and lunch facilities. We went straight from the car to the training field and back into the car.
'We did everything to make sure players weren’t in an environment where they were close together in an indoor area.
'Luckily, all of our tests proved negative and we were able to return to a normal way of working.’
Palace welcome back Wilfried Zaha for tomorrow’s trip to West Brom after missing the Newcastle game having tested positive for Covid-19.