Burton Albion release update ahead of weekend game against Blackpool after Covid-19 outbreak threw game into doubt

The Seasiders are due to welcome Burton to Bloomfield Road next weekend after taking on Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium tomorrow night.

Saturday's game against Burton was thrown into doubt over the weekend when the Brewers called off their midweek clash against Shrewsbury Town following a Covid-19 outbreak.

But Jimmy Hasselbaink's side, who are without eight players and staff due to the outbreak, will now be tested again on Wednesday.

Hasselbaink says that if the game against Blackpool does go ahead it gives his team precious little preparation time.

“The club is closed down now and we are not allowed in until Wednesday when we all be tested again," he said.

"Once we get the results back they will say what will happen. The club will be disinfected and all that kind of stuff to make sure the bug is out of the club.

“The players who are infected can’t do anything; the ones who aren’t can only do a bit of fitness work.

"We can do nothing as a group and if we come back after Wednesday, we only have two days and if the game goes ahead, they will be open for injuries as they have not trained and still have to then put that amount of stress on their bodies.

“But we will see what they say on Wednesday and take it from there.

“We have eight people affected and eight in our squad is a lot of people. The danger is of it escalating, which is why everyone needs to be away from each other to stop it going any further.”

Blackpool, meanwhile, are also without at least eight players due to a mixture of Covid-19 and injuries.

The club announced before Saturday's FA Cup tie against Brighton that they had returned five positive tests following its latest round of mandatory testing.

While the players affected haven’t been named, regular first-teamers Dan Ballard, Ollie Turton, Kenny Dougall and Grant Ward weren’t involved at the weekend.

Demetri Mitchell, meanwhile, is already self-isolating having tested positive earlier last week.

Daniel Gretarsson, Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton are all out injured.

Blackpool's players were tested again today, with the results due back on Tuesday. If more positive tests are returned, that could put tomorrow's game against Wigan in doubt.

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