QPR boss gives bleak outlook as Covid clouds gather over festive football fixture lists - Mirror Online

QPR boss Mark Warburton has suggested another of his team's games could be called off due to the Covid outbreak in the camp.

Monday night's trip to face Sheffield United was postponed after a clutch of positive cases within Rangers' first team squad.

Warburton's side are due to face Swansea City at home in their next Championship game. That is scheduled for Saturday, December 18.

But Warburton has said it is "highly doubtful" that the game will go ahead due to the self-isolation period that players are required to serve.

That would mean that Rangers' next game would not be until December 27 when they are pencilled in to host AFC Bournemouth.

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If the Swansea game does not go ahead it would mean Warburton's side will have gone 22 days without playing a game. Their last outing was on December 5, when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Stoke City.

Speaking on talkSPORT , the QPR chief said: "It's difficult to be fair.

"We had our round of testing and were preparing for our trip to Sheffield. We had four people come down positive with Covid and we’ve had two more overnight displaying symptoms.

"We have some unvaccinated players who have come into close contact as well. I’ve now got 10 isolating. That's a very difficult situation.

"As a group, we agonised over the decision [to call off Sheffield United game]. We had to do the right thing.

"You've got players who are deeply frustrated and confused by the situation, but you've got to observe the government's guidelines.

"Just being honest with you, I've got 10 players isolating. From a manager's perspective, Swansea looks highly doubtful because, to have so many now not returning until the week starting the 20th, they won't return to training until the 21st, 22nd or 23rd of December.

"So in my mind, and I know people above my pay grade will make the decision, Bournemouth is the next game we've got to focus on.

"Football has its obligation to do what it can. Hopefully we can lead from the front and set the right example. I'm convinced we've made the right decision."

QPR are by no means the only club to be affected by an outbreak.

Manchester United have shut down their training ground after several players and staff returned positive lateral flow tests at the club's Carrington training complex on Sunday.

Their Premier League game with Brentford on Tuesday is now a doubt.

Elsewhere, Tottenham have had two games called off in the past week due to an outbreak whilst Brighton have also experienced a similar issue. Boss Graham Potter confirmed that a small number of the first team have tested positive.

Aston Villa have also reported a number of positive cases among those who work at Villa's training facility.

Of those, one was identified as a member of Villa's playing staff.

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