EPL: Newcastle vs Aston Villa Clash Postponed Due To COVID-19

Newcastle vs Aston Villa, scheduled for Friday, has become the first Premier League match to be postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak since EPL returns in June.

AllNews understands that several Newcastle players and staff have tested positive for COVID-19, leading the club to shut their training ground.

Following a Premier League Board meeting today, Newcastle United’s fixture at Aston Villa, due to be played at 20:00 GMT Friday 4 December, has been postponed

Full statement: https://t.co/ehtPV0pjZ3 pic.twitter.com/SnMQfx18zJ

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 1, 2020

"Newcastle lodged a request with the Premier League to rearrange the game following a significant increase in Covid-19 cases at the club, which resulted in Public Health England North East advising that their training facilities remain closed," the Premier League said in a statement.

"The Premier League Board agreed, as a consequence, that the club is unable to train and adequately and safely prepare for their match on Friday."

READ ALSO: COVID-19: FA Warns On 'Huge Impact' Of '6-Month No Fans' On Clubs In England

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce had already canceled training on Sunday after four players and a member of the backroom staff tested positive for the virus last week.

Bruce was already without five first-team players for last Friday's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

In a statement, Newcastle said: "Several Newcastle United players and staff members are now self-isolating at home after returning positive test results in recent days and the club's training center site has been temporarily closed in order to contain the spread of the virus."

❌ #NUFC's fixture at Aston Villa on Friday has been postponed following a significant increase in Covid-19 cases at the Magpies’ Training Centre.

A new date and time for the game will be confirmed in due course.

— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 1, 2020

"Aston Villa can confirm that the club fully supports the Premier League's decision to postpone our fixture with Newcastle United on Friday following a significant Covid outbreak at the Tyneside club and the shutdown of their training ground by Public Health England," Villa said in a statement.

"Everybody at Aston Villa wishes a speedy recovery to all those Newcastle United FC affected by the virus."

With Aston Villa nor Newcastle involved in European football - meaning there is plenty of space in the calendar for the match to be rescheduled despite a shortened season.

The city of Newcastle will enter the most severe restriction band when the latest national lockdown in England ends on Wednesday.