St Mirren’s match with Hibernian will go ahead on Saturday – despite all three of the Paisley club’s goalkeepers being unavailable due to coronavirus.
St Mirren say they are trying to sign a keeper on loan after receiving “very late confirmation” from the SPFL on Friday evening that the game is on.
A second keeper tested positive after confirmation on Monday that Jak Alnwick is self-isolating.
A third, who tested negative, is ruled out having been in close proximity.
That player is “at potential risk of transmission” and is excluded as a precaution as the virus may be in incubation. St Mirren’s three goalkeepers are Alnwick, Dean Lyness and Peter Urminksy.
Scottish football’s joint response group, having consulted government health officials, says “there is not enough evidence” to support a postponement.
Alnwick’s house-mate, Lee Hodson – the former St Mirren full-back now with Hamilton Academical – is also having to quarantine for 14 days.
Goalkeeper Alnwick started his 10 days of isolation after Monday testing.
After a fresh set of tests on Thursday, St Mirren said they “can confirm that a second player has tested positive”.
St Mirren did not reveal the player’s identity, but he will join Alnwick in missing the Paisley side’s games against Hibs and Celtic.
All St Mirren players will be retested on Sunday ahead of their midweek fixture against Celtic.
‘They have adhered to guidelines’
Speaking before the second positive test, manager Jim Goodwin said he would normally be reluctant to name the first player but that there was “no point us denying it” after it appeared on social media.
“It would be perfectly clear to everyone when the team is selected on Saturday anyway,” he said. “We are disappointed for Jak, but he’s doing well and recovering.”
Alnwick’s positive case was picked up during the Scottish Premiership club’s twice-weekly testing and, following the second positive test, they again stressed they had “followed all protocol to the letter”.
Unlike Hodson, who has to isolate for 14 days having come into contact with a positive case, the goalkeeper’s 10-day quarantine leaves Goodwin hoping he can return for his side’s game against Dundee United on 19 September.
“The two lads have been close pals for a number of years and Lee Hodson came up the road to Hamilton just recently, so this was a temporary arrangement,” Goodwin explained.
“We were satisfied because we know that Hamilton are in the same situation as ourselves and are adhering to the guidelines as we are.
“We worked with Lee last season – two very professional lads who would most definitely be sticking to what’s been asked of them. It is just an unfortunate situation.”
St Mirren had seven members of staff test positive for Covid-19 in July, but six were found to be false-positives after further screening and Goodwin insisted that Alnwick had followed all the protocols.
“This is just something that is going to continue to happen,” he said. “What I can say is that there’s no way Jak has picked it up while he’s been here at Ralston [training ground] or down at the stadium.
“We can’t do any more as a club at our end, but unfortunately the players and the staff members, everybody has to go home and some of our partners and wives are going out to work every day.
“I’ve got three kids going to school every day mixing with hundreds of other children.”
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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