Crystal Palace will have to manage without manager Patrick Vieira in the dugout against Tottenham this afternoon after the Frenchman returned a positive Covid-19 test.
A club statement on Twitter read: "We can confirm that Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is self-isolating after returning a positive test for Covid-19, and will be absent from the touchline for today’s match against Spurs.
"Assistant manager Osian Roberts will deputise for Vieira for today’s match."
football.london understands that two members of Crystal Palace’s backroom team had tested positive for the virus, whilst a small number of cases in the playing squad has also been confirmed.
The Boxing Day clash will be played as normal despite a rising number of Covid cases in the Eagles' camp, including Vieira's. The news will be a big boost to Spurs, who have seen their season thus far hugely hampered by various postponements.
Antonio Conte's men only got back in action last week against Liverpool in the Premier League following a 10-day break that saw fixtures against Rennes, Brighton and Hove Albion and Leicester City all called off.
The festive fixture list has still been greatly altered though with just six fixtures expected to take place throughout the remainder of the day.
Tottenham are currently seventh in the Premier League table, whilst the Eagles are sitting in a healthy 11th position, nine points clear of the relegation zone. Nevertheless, it's certainly advantage Spurs going into the clash and Conte will be looking to take all three points.
