Newcastle United duo Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles have been missing from the last few games after contracting Covid-19 - club sources have now confirmed.
The club captain and talented winger are now going through the Premier League's protocol for recovery.
Both players are believed to have suffered badly from the virus and have been unable to train or play.
Saint-Maximin, Lascelles, Emil Krafth, Isaac Hayden and Fedrerico Fernandez are all on the list of players who the virus has affected after an outbreak of Covid after the international break in November.
Steve Bruce has also confirmed that some of his back-room staff have suffered from the virus.
Bruce had said previously: "Some of them seem all right but then the fatigue element hits them, but for two it’s beyond that.
"They’re still going to take weeks to get back; you wouldn’t think that this long Covid thing is possible in fit, young athletes."
