Manchester City stars Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker will miss the Christmas schedule after both testing positive for Covid-19, with the Premier League club confirming the pair will now self-isolate.
City also added that two members of staff also contracted the virus.
After both playing in City's thumping 4-1 Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal on Tuesday, to set up a January meeting with Manchester United in the semi-final, Pep Guardiola will be without two key players against Newcastle in the evening kick-off on Boxing Day.
The need to self-isolate will also likely rule the pair out of City’s games against Everton on 28 December as well as Chelsea on 3 January.
A club statement said: "Manchester City FC can confirm that Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker, and two members of staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
"All four personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine.
"Everyone at the Club wishes our colleagues a speedy recovery over the Christmas period ahead of their return to work, training and competition."
Under Premier League regulations, players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.
That is likely to rule Jesus and Walker out of trips to Everton and Chelsea, as well as the Newcastle clash.
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PA also contributed to this report
