West Bromwich Albion have been rocked by a major outbreak of COVID-19 with four defenders testing positive for the virus ahead of today’s Championship clash with Reading.
Cedric Kipre, Matt Clarke, Semi Ajayi and Conor Townsend have all been forced into self-isolation after returning positive coronavirus tests.
And winger Grady Diangana is also out with a serious sickness bug that is also sweeping through the club’s training ground, although he has tested negative for COVID-19.
Head coach Valerien Ismael is also without winger Matt Phillips with a hamstring issue and injured midfielder Robert Snodgrass, while Kean Bryan, Dara O’Shea and striker Kenneth Zohore are long-term absentees.
It means Ismael has been forced to select his only 10 available senior outfield players to face Reading with six youth-team players joining reserve goalkeeper David Button on the substitutes’ bench.
A West Brom statement said: "Valerien Ismael has made four enforced changes to his team for today’s game against Reading following a COVID-19 outbreak at the club.
"Cedric Kipre, Matt Clarke, Conor Townsend and Semi Ajayi are all self-isolating after testing positive for Coronavirus earlier in the week, while Grady Diangana misses the game through illness."
(Photo: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images)
