Gareth Southgate to face scrutiny over claim England boss 'tested positive for Covid'

Gareth Southgate is set to be asked later on Sunday about a report that he tested positive for Covid-19 last month.

The Football Association has not commented on the Sun on Sunday’s story that the England manager had mild symptoms and isolated at his home in Harrogate, Yorkshire, but Southgate will face the cameras ahead of the Uefa Nations League match against Belgium in Leuven.

Southgate, 50, was said to have isolated for 10 days and returned negative tests ahead of meeting up with players at their Pennyhill Park base in Surrey earlier this week.

Before heading to Belgium, he spoke of the tight protocols that his squad face as they complete their international matches for 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic. He was asked about coronavirus when Republic of Ireland midfielder Alan Browne tested positive after playing against England in Wednesday’s friendly.

“All of our tests have come back negative,” Southgate said. “The protocols are very tight. All for our research at the start of Project restart means the medical community have confidence there is minimal possibility of transmission on the field of play. We’re relaxed about that.

“We’re all in a strange environment . We’re having to compromise the whole time - how long we can sit at tables for meals or in for meetings. It’s not so enjoyable but we’re in a privileged position to be able to work and realise that with the country in lockdown.”

Southgate has needed to deal with issues of coronavirus this season when he sent home Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood for having female guests, breaching safety guidelines, at the team hotel in Iceland.

Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho also delayed joining up with the squad last month when they were pictured at a party which broke the Government’s social distancing rules.

Even this week, Conor Coady returned home from the squad as he came into contact with a person who had tested positive for Covid-19 via an NHS Test and Trace alert.