Blackpool duo test positive for coronavirus - but Boxing Day clash against Rochdale set to go ahead as planned

The pair will now self-isolate for the next 10 days but the cases are thought to be isolated incidents, with Pool confident Saturday’s Boxing Day clash against Rochdale will still go ahead.

Maxwell and Virtue returned their positive tests during time off, with Neil Critchley not taking any training sessions on Sunday or Monday following Saturday’s goalless draw against Accrington Stanley.

With Maxwell now unavailable for Pool’s festive schedule, the Seasiders are expected to bring in Reading goalkeeper Sam Walker on an emergency seven-day loan deal.

“Unfortunately we’ve had two players display some coronavirus symptoms and they’ve been tested and have tested positive. They now have to have a period of self-isolation,” Critchley confirmed during today’s press conference.

“Everyone else, all the other staff and players who were at the training ground on Tuesday, are all okay. No-one else has displayed any symptoms at the moment.

“Our best wishes go to Matty and Maxi. I’ve spoken to both of them, they’re both okay, but they’ll now be missing over the Christmas period.

“It was mild symptoms, but you have to do the right thing and get tested, which they did. Unfortunately they came back positive.

“There seems to be an outbreak or more cases recently all across the country and football is no different. We’re all human beings, we don’t dodge the virus just because we’re involved in football so we have to deal with it.

“Discussions take place within the club about what is the right thing to do and we feel as though we’re going down the right course of action with both of those players and the rest of the squad and staff.”

Fellow League One sides Bristol Rovers, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United, Portsmouth and Sunderland have all suffered outbreaks in recent days, causing a number of games to be postponed.

Blackpool were due to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last night, however that fixture was postponed last week with a new date yet to be confirmed.

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