Lee Johnson has revealed that Covid-19 is impacting Sunderland this week.

Johnson admitted that the club is suffering with a few cases of the virus with Frederik Alves testing positive for the coronavirus. 

“Covid [is] closing in on us a bit,” said Johnson, via Phil Smith on Twitter. 

Sunderland have already had Aiden O’Brien miss time out due to a positive Covid-19 test, and their fixture with Fleetwood Town was postponed in December due to the opposition’s inability to field a team for the game. 

Sunderland are currently second in the League One table, one point behind Rotherham. Wigan Athletic are four points behind in third place, but the Latics do have three games in hand on their automatic promotion rivals. 

The Black Cats have won four of their last five league games, including back to back wins against Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday in their two most recent fixtures. 

Johnson’s side won with an aggregate scoreline of 8-0 in those two games. 

Sunderland next face Wycombe Wanderers in the league on January 8. Wycombe are fourth in the table. 

The Verdict

This is obviously not good news for Sunderland regardless of anything on-pitch related.

Any disruption to their season is unfortunate but especially so when it is due to an outbreak.

The virus has ripped through the top divisions of England in the last month or so, with numerous clubs hit with postponements and training ground closures.

Sunderland will be hoping to avoid any of this, but it’s impossible to predict with these things and it is always better to play on the safer side of caution.