IRELAND midfielder Alan Browne tested positive for coronavirus after playing in the friendly defeat to England.
The Preston star, 25, featured for the full 90 minutes at Wembley last night as the Republic of Ireland fell to a 3-0 defeat.
Alan Browne, right, tested positive for coronavirus after Ireland’s defeat to EnglandCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
The Irish FA tweeted: “The Football Association of Ireland can confirm Ireland midfielder Alan Browne has tested positive for Covid-19.
“There are no close contacts of the player and the rest of the staff & squad tested negative ahead of Sunday’s Uefa Nations League against Wales in Cardiff.”
Browne was one of five Ireland players to complete the entire match as both sides made the most of the extra substitutions.
He was tested on the morning of the game, with the positive result coming back today.
Goals from Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho set the Three Lions on their way before Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted a penalty 11 minutes after the break.
Inevitably, Browne was in close contact with a number of England stars including Manchester United captain Maguire, Chelsea’s Reece James and Tottenham ace Harry Winks.
Despite the concerns sparked as a result of Browne’s confirmed coronavirus case, SunSport understands the FA are not worried about anyone catching the virus from him during the game.
And this news does not alter their plans for the remainder of the international break as they remain in a bio-secure bubble for travel, accommodation and training.
The Preston midfielder has left the Irish camp ahead of their clash with WalesCredit: PA:Press Association
To limit the possible spread of the killer virus, England squad meetings and meals together are no longer than 15 minutes.
Players are also bunking in separate rooms.
Players will not need to self-isolate because they’ve not been in close contact with Browne for more than 15 minutes and – while a match covers 90 minutes – the quick contact between players mean the time spent together is seen as minimal
England head to face Belgium on Sunday before welcoming Euro 2016 conquerors Iceland to Wembley on Wednesday.
That game was under threat or may have been played in another country before the Icelandic squad were given special dispensation to avoid quarantining after arriving from Denmark.
Southgate and his squad will be tested again before they fly to Belgium for the game over the weekend.
Earlier in the Nations League campaign, Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden were sent home from Iceland in disgrace after breaking the strict coronavirus rules.
The youngsters sneaked a pair of local women into their hotel and were slammed with a four-game ban for England.
Browne was one of five Ireland players to play the full 90 minutesCredit: PA:Press Association
Phil Foden, pictured, and Mason Greenwood were sent home from England camp for breaking coronavirus protocolsCredit: Snapchat
One of the girls, model Nadia Sif Lindal Gunnarsdottir, 20, revealed she had been chatting with Greenwood before his trip to Iceland
Jadon Sancho, Ben Chilwell and Tammy Abraham missed the friendly win over Wales after being filmed attending a packed party last month.
The trio were in a gathering of about 20 friends and family, clearly flouting strict Covid-19 laws, for the Chelsea striker’s 23rd birthday.
Meanwhile, Wolves centre-half Conor Coady was sent home on Thursday after the NHS Test and Trace service revealed he had come into contact with a person who contracted the virus. Coady is now self-isolating.
Browne’s positive result is the latest in the Irish camp.
West Brom forward Callum Robinson was ruled out of the clash at Wembley due to his case, confirmed just days before the match.
In the previous international break, duo Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah missed the Euro 2020 play-off loss in Slovakia after a staff member they had come in close contact with contracted Covid-19.
A further five players missed the Nations League tie against Wales after one of them tested positive, with the other four all deemed close contacts.
Tammy Abraham, left, and Ben Chilwell flouted lockdown rules by attending a party alongside Jadon Sancho for the Chelsea striker’s 23rd birthday
England defender Reece James celebrates his side’s 3-0 win over Ireland at Wembley
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
