Six Celtic players are living on a knife edge waiting to see if more than John Fleck in the Scotland squad has been infected by the pandemic.
Yesterday the SFA announced that the Sheffield United midfielder had tested positive and would have to self-isolate. Fleck was left behing in Spain as the rest of Steve Clarke’s squad jumped on a plane to fly to Portugal to prepare for a friendly tonight against Holland.
The benefits of being in Spain to prepare for matches in Glasgow and London seem difficult to define while additional flights to Portugal and Luxembourg seem to bring unnecessary danger to the squad and backroom staff.
Callum McGregor, James Forrest, David Turnbull, Greg Taylor, Ryan Christie and Jack Taylor are on board with a report in the Daily Record claiming that the SFA are bracing themselves for more players being infected:
The SFA confirmed yesterday that Sheffield United’s John Fleck will not face Holland in the Algarve tonight after testing positive at Clarke’s training camp in Spain – and being left behind to begin a period of self isolation which could last for up to ten days.
But, despite Clarke insisting publicly yesterday that the situation is contained and under control, Record Sport understands the national boss and his medical team are now bracing themselves for the possibility that more of his men may have been infected.
Sources close to the camp have told us protocols have been ramped up ahead of the game against the Dutch – who were also reeling yesterday when boss Frank de Boer chose to axe first choice keeper Jasper Cillessen from his squad after the Valencia No.1 posted a positive test.
And Clarke will be left crossing his fingers over the course of the next 72 hours that no more positives are uncovered inside his own group.
A source told Record Sport : “The next three days will be critical. The squad all tested negative on Tuesday morning but the medical team will want to see another round of negatives before the Holland game and again the following day before they can relax.
“Only at that point will they feel the risk of spread has been reduced so for the time being it’s a code red situation for everyone.”
The Scotland squad flew out to Spain on Friday with Fleck’s positive result being detected on Tuesday. Clarke claimed that the SFA are 99.5% certain that Fleck was infected before joining up with the Scotland squad.
Celtic goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods is also with the Scotland squad. Fleck has been given an exercise bike in his Spanish hotel room.
In October an England v Scotland u-19 match was abandoned at half-time after a positive result for Billy Stark was detected.
In November 11 players had to self-isolate following Scotland’s u-21 fixture away to Greece.
