Man Utd Vs Brentford To Be Postponed Over COVID-19 Outbreak

Manchester United are in talks with the Premier League over the potential postponement of Tuesday's match at Brentford after the Old Trafford club became the latest top-flight team to be hit by a coronavirus outbreak.

United halted first-team operations at their Carrington training complex for 24 hours on Monday after several players and staff tested positive for the virus.

Ralf Rangnick's squad will not travel to London for the match until the outcome of the discussions with the Premier League was known.

Aston Villa and Brighton also revealed positive tests on Monday as the virus threatened to wreak havoc on the fixture list.

"Manchester United can confirm that following PCR test confirmation of yesterday's positive LFT Covid-19 cases among the first-team staff and players, the decision has been taken to close down first-team operations at the Carrington Training Complex for 24 hours, to minimise risk of any further infection," a United statement said.

"Individuals who tested positive are isolating per Premier League protocols.

"Given cancellation of training and disruption to the squad, and with the health of players and staff the priority, the club is in discussion with the Premier League whether it is safe for Tuesday's fixture against Brentford to continue, both from a Covid infection and player preparation perspective.

"Team and staff travel to London will be deferred pending the result of that discussion."

It was reported positive lateral flow tests were returned by a small group of United players and staff on Sunday, with those individuals sent home before the training session began.

With the Omicron variant sweeping across Britain -- forcing the government to reintroduce stricter Covid protocols -- United's outbreak comes against a backdrop of growing virus issues at Premier League clubs.

Tottenham's Premier League fixture against Brighton on Sunday was postponed after an outbreak at the north London club left boss Antonio Conte admitting he and his players were "scared".