Manchester United’s match against Brentford on Tuesday night has been thrown into doubt after a scheduled training session on Sunday was impacted by a number of positive Covid-19 tests.

The lateral flow tests had followed Saturday’s win against Norwich City and relate to a small number of players and staff. Those individuals who tested positive on Sunday morning were sent home and training was adjusted to individual or non contact work.

The Premier League are aware of the situation and United’s match against Brentford has not, as yet, been postponed but there will now be concern at the possibility of the sort of outbreak that Tottenham Hotspur experienced last week.

Rising case numbers and the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant prompted the Premier League to write to clubs last week and urge emergency measures, including increased social distancing in training, masks in indoor settings and a move to three tests a week.

The English Football League has reintroduced similar measures and is continuing a campaign to get more players vaccinated amid a current uptake of around 75 per cent.

It was revealed on Wednesday that eight Tottenham players and five members of staff had tested positive. Their subsequent fixtures against Rennes in the Europa League on Thursday and against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Sunday did not take place.

Premier League teams must follow government guidance in respect of Covid, meaning that players and staff who are identified as close contacts of anyone testing positive for the Omicron variant must self-isolate for 10 days (or, from Tuesday, take a daily lateral flow test). 

Queens Park Rangers were also forced to postpone their Championship fixture against Sheffield United on Monday following several positive tests among players and staff. They told the English Football League that they did not have sufficient numbers to fulfil the fixture and, while there will now be an investigation into the circumstances, they expect to announce a rescheduled date shortly.

West Bromwich Albion were also hit by an outbreak on Saturday, with four defenders testing positive before their 1-0 win against Reading. 

Premier League clubs now take routine lateral flow tests rather than the more sensitive PCR tests. There is no mandatory testing in the EFL.

Clubs should also hear further details on Monday of the new Covid passes that they will require from fans attending matches as part of the Government’s new ‘Plan B’ measures. Fans must either be double-jabbed or have tested negative for Covid-19 on a lateral flow test. The new rules will apply to crowds of over 10,000 and are only expected to be enforced with spot-checks after clubs said that it would not be practical to subject every fan to individual verification.