Cobblers' Boxing Day trip to Ipswich Town under threat due to COVID

Cobblers' Boxing Day trip to Portman Road looks to be in serious doubt after an outbreak of coronavirus within the Ipswich Town squad and coaching staff.

Tractor Boys boss Paul Lambert has tested positive for COVID, as well as five others, just six days before Town are due to travel to Suffolk. The EFL will now decide whether or not the game can go ahead.

Sunderland, Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers have already had fixtures postponed over the festive period due to various outbreaks of coronavirus within their squads.

"Paul Lambert one of six Blues to test positive for coronavirus," confirmed an Ipswich statement released on Saturday evening. "Six members of Town’s playing and coaching staff have tested positive for Covid-19 including manager Paul Lambert.

"The club tested all the first-team squad and coaching staff before training on Friday morning after one player reported symptoms and the results were returned to Blues this evening.

"Town have made the EFL aware, with the home game against Northampton on Boxing Day and the trip to AFC Wimbledon on December 29 now clearly in doubt."

General manager of football operations Lee O’Neill said: “We will be closing the training ground for now in line with guidelines until we have spoken in detail with the EFL about the way forward.

"The club have kept stringent contact restrictions in place at the training ground since the players returned to training in August, with all communal areas remaining closed to the squad. "

Ipswich were due to play at Peterborough today but the game was postponed because of a positive test in the Posh camp.