Stoke City's preparation ahead of the resumption of the Championship season has been thrown into confusion after manager Michael O'Neill tested positive for Covid-19.
O'Neill, who had tested negative in the previous five rounds of testing, was flagged in the latest set of testing by the EFL, between June 3-5, in which just two positive results were revealed from 1,179 samples.
The former Northern Ireland manager must now enter a period in isolation of at least a week with assistant Billy McKinlay taking charge of training as the Potters prepare to play Reading on June 20. Bristol City welcome Stoke to Ashton Gate on July 14.
Stoke are 17th in the Championship, just three points from safety. In a short statement, the club said that O'Neill will remain in, "regular virtual contact with his coaching staff and players".
The Potters had been due to play Manchester United in a pre-restart friendly at the Premier League club's Carrington training ground on Tuesday, and had travelled to Lancashire, but the match was called off following the news.
O'Neill took over as Stoke boss last November following the departure of Nathan Jones, and has led the Potters to 10 wins from his 23 matches in charge.
Stoke face a crucial few weeks of fixtures from June 20 as their first four games of the restarted season are against teams around them in the table: Reading, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Barnsley.
