COVID-19 Concerns Eased, Newcastle Returns To Training

Training center Newcastle United (Twitter @NUFC)

JAKARTA - The Newcastle United squad are returning to training after fears of COVID-19 which had infected several players and their coaches have begun to subside, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

This development coincided with reports in the British media stating the Week 12 Premier League match between Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion in St. Petersburg. James' Park will continue as scheduled on Saturday, 12 December.

Previously, a significant increase in positive COVID-19 test results in the Newcastle squad last week had caused their training base at Darsley Park to be closed.

As a result, Newcastle submitted a request for postponement of the 11th Premier League match where they were supposed to visit Aston Villa's headquarters at Villa Park, Birmingham, on Friday last week.

This match was the first Premier League match to be postponed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, after the 2019/20 season competition resumed in June 2020.

The #NUFC squad return to full group training this afternoon following last week's temporary closure due to a rise in Covid-19 cases. ⚫️⚪️ pic.twitter.com/C4T3pC9Ss5

- Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 9, 2020

The delay is clearly a heavy blow for the Premier League, especially last week marked the first time spectators were allowed to return to several stadiums in accordance with the British government's easing of the protocol to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Newcastle are currently 13th in the standings with a collection of 14 points after winning two wins and two draws in their last five appearances.