Despite the outbreak, the club intend to field a team
The entire Derby County first team and interim manager Wayne Rooney will miss the club’s FA Cup third round tie against non-league Chorley FC due to a Covid-19 outbreak at Pride Park.
It’s understood that seven players and members of staff tested positive for coronavirus in the most recent round of mandatory testing, forcing Rooney and the senior squad to self isolate.
According to the Telegraph, under-23 managers Pat Lyons and Gary Bowyer will take charge for the midday game, presiding over a team which is expected to be made up of players from the club’s under-23 and under-18 squads.
The club’s training ground will remain closed until next Tuesday after the outbreak.
The seven cases come after the Rams’ Championship game on New Year’s Day, a 1-0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, who have also been hit with a number of Covid-19 cases in recent testing.
Rooney has been in interim charge of Derby since the sacking of Phillip Cocu last year. He has taken charge of nine games; winning three, drawing four and losing two.
Derby’s is just the latest in a string of outbreaks at football clubs across the country.
Earlier today, Manchester City – who had their recent Premier League game against Everton suspended due to an outbreak at the Etihad Stadium – today announced a further three cases among staff.
Their left-back, Benjamin Mendy, was one of a number of Premier League footballers to breach coronavirus guidelines during the festive period, with Crystal Palace captain Luka Milivojevic and Spurs’ left-back Sergio Reguilon among the others to have come in for criticism.
