Sheffield United reveal one of their employees was hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19

United were struck by an outbreak of the virus, which has so far claimed nearly 80,000 lives across the country, last month with a number of positive tests being reported at their Steelphalt Academy training complex.

Two squad members and several others working behind the scenes were found to be suffering from the respiratory disease during mandatory screening procedure, although several other suspected cases later tested negative.

Despite confirming the players in question could return to action when United face Bristol Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup tomorrow, Wilder told The Star: “I’ve got to say there’s two or three of the staff who have really struggled. One was hospitalised with it, which is disappointing. That’s concerning.

“We’ve had players who have had it, and you are monitoring their situation and their health. We’ve done our very best to stick to the protocols.

“As you can imagine, with the new strain of what’s spreading through the country, there’s more and more cases. We’ll look at the players and - if they are healthy enough and no risk will be taken because of the possible long term effects - they’ll be involved.”

Although the situation has placed even further strain on a team already missing numerous influential figures through injury - Oli McBurnie is the latest name to be definitely ruled-out of the visit to Rovers - United chose to continue fulfilling their fixture schedule. Other top-flight clubs have also been hit, while many in the English Football League have been forced to postpone matches.

“There’s something coming through in the next 12 or 24 hours, that the restrictions and protocols have got even tougher,” Wilder explained. “There’s some things that we’re able to do now that we won’t be able to do going forward. We will follow those to the letter. We’ll follow the medical expertise, which has been brilliant.”

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