The Championship’s plans to return on June 20 have reportedly been hit as the Daily Mail has reported a positive test at Preston North End has been revealed after the club’s first full-contact training session.
It is stated that Preston are believed to have held a squad match at the Springfields training ground and their first full-contact session is said to have been held before the latest round of test results was returned by club doctors.
The identity of the individual who has contracted Covid-19 is unknown but the result is prompting concern that a portion of Alex Neil's squad may now have to self-isolate for a fortnight.
The Government's track and trace guidelines released last week state that anyone who has come into contact with the virus should self-isolate for 14 days.
That would leave some PNE players with just four days' worth of full training before the Championship is due to return. They would be able to train alone at home in the meantime.
If confirmed, it would be the second positive test returned at Preston after the club announced on Saturday that striker Jason Stockley tested positive and is self-isolating - and it’s understood he was involved in a non-contact session on Friday.
Tuesday's worrying developments will serve as a real headache for the EFL, who had worked hard to resume the second tier in line with the Premier League and raises questions over the viability of Project Restart in the top two divisions.
Championship clubs were permitted to begin contact training on Tuesday once they submitted updated policies to the EFL. Preston and league leaders Leeds United were among those teams to begin.
Preston North End have been contacted for comment.
