'Russian Roulette' - Sheffield United's FA Cup opponents Bristol Rovers face anxious wait for Covid-19 test results

Rovers' players and staff underwent mandatory testing yesterday morning, with results expected back tonight ahead of tomorrow's game.

All EFL teams are now tested twice a week for coronavirus, funded by the Professional Footballers' Association.

A number of third-round clashes have been affected by Covid-19 already, with Aston Villa's entire first-team squad reported to be self-isolating and a squad of U23 and U18 players set to face Liverpool. Derby will also field a young squad against Chorley while a number of positive cases in the Shrewsbury Town squad has seen their clash with Southampton postponed.

United themselves have been hit with a number of Covid cases, affecting both players and backroom staff, and Tisdale said: "It’s like Russian roulette. I’m waiting for tomorrow evening for when we get the results thinking we’ve prepped for two or three days and on Friday night we find out a player or two could be missing.

"We seem fine. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ve ... done a full training session. Virtually the whole squad was fit and healthy, so we’ll find out [Friday] night how good those tests are, how much we’ve been impacted. We don’t know."

But Tidsdale is "delighted" that EFL clubs are being tested twice a week, like their counterparts in the top flight.

"Players in the EFL are just as important as Premier League players, their families are just as important," he added.

"It’s the right thing to do. It’s twice a week and I don’t think it will be a particularly pleasant experience and we’re all prepared to do it. I’m delighted we’re doing it.

"The more knowledge we have, the more control we have, the better the chances of running the process and finishing the league.

"I’m sure it’s going to throw up a few difficult situations with players being found positive without knowing it, but as long as we get a fair wind against everyone else I think it’s the right thing to do."

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