August 28 – Manchester United star Paul Pogba has been left out of France’s squad for the upcoming Nations League games against Sweden and Croatia after testing positive for coronavirus.
The news was confirmed by France head coach Didier Deschamps with Pogba having to self-isolate for a period of 10 days, then be re-tested and only if negative will he be allowed to return to training.
Pogba is not the only English-based top-flight player to suffer, with a spate of coronavirus cases that could potentially jeopardise the scheduled start of the season on September 12.
Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele is also set to miss the French games after contracting the virus while no fewer than eight Chelsea players are reportedly in quarantine after returning from their summer breaks.
Chelsea visit Brighton on Saturday in a pivotal friendly when 2,500 fans will be allowed into the stadium is a test case.
Altogether, 14 positive tests have been recorded at 12 different top-flight clubs when players returned to pre-season training at the start of last week, including those at Sheffield United, West Ham and Brighton
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713564188labto1713564188ofdlr1713564188owedi1713564188sni@w1713564188ahsra1713564188w.wer1713564188dna1713564188