Second Newcastle United game thrown into doubt nine days before they visit Leeds United

TESTING TIME - Newcastle United suffered an outbreak of Covid-19 at their training ground, forcing the postponement of their game against Aston Villa. Now, nine days before a visit to Leeds United, a national newspaper has cast doubt on Newcastle's weekend fixture with West Brom. Pic: Getty

Last week's fixture against Aston Villa was postponed due to an outbreak at Newcastle's training ground, which has been closed since early last week.

It is hoped they could return to the training facility tomorrow and the YEP's sister paper The Gazette understands the players were to be tested again today, having been given home fitness programmes.

However the Daily Telegraph have reported that cases at the club are 'well into double figures' and suggest this weekend's game game against West Brom is in peril.

Newcastle, who are scheduled to visit Elland Road next Wednesday, have made no comment on the situation since the Villa game was postponed.

Their December 1 statement said: "While the club has continued to ensure strict adherence to protocols, and despite previously experiencing only a very small number of isolated Covid-19 cases, positive test results have risen sharply in recent days. Accordingly, the club is now is working with Public Health England North East, local health authorities and the Premier League in line with Covid-19 protocols to identify the source of the outbreak and to ensure the risk of further transmission continues to be minimised."

Saturday opponents West Brom are playing the waiting game, admitted boss Slaven Bilic.

"We don’t know yet," he said at the weekend.

"The health and security of the staff and everybody who is involved – referees, everybody – comes first. Aston Villa against Newcastle is postponed, for our game, we don’t know. That’ll be down to the Premier League, and it’s down to the situation there. It’s even above the Premier League – it’s down to the medical people."

Leeds lost record signing Rodrigo to a positive test last month. The striker missed games against Leicester City and Crystal Palace but was able to return after the November international break and has come off the bench in each of the Whites' fixtures since.