Sheffield Wednesday caretaker boss Neil Thompson explains coronavirus symptoms and when Middlewood Road will be re-opened

One of those to have suffered a positive test is caretaker manager Neil Thompson, leaving the Owls in the curious position of having a stand-in to the stand-in boss as Andy Holdsworth becomes the fourth man to take charge of a match this season.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Devon, Thompson was unable to comment on the health of his players but explained his experience while undertaking the mandatory 10-day isolation period at his home.

He said: “I had a rough couple of days over the weekend, Saturday evening and Sunday. I had the test Sunday and it came back positive Monday.

“On Monday I started to come through it, my head started to clear, I’d had a bad headache, I was aching a bit, a sore throat.

“I’d put the sore throat down to shouting at the game! I hadn’t done that for a while, so that’s what I was thinking.

“I just feel now as if I’m coming through a bad cold in winter. As far as I’m aware, there’s nobody – touch wood – that are suffering really serious issues.”

Wednesday are expected to name an inexperienced side for the tie, with Wednesday heading down on one of three coaches to ensure social distancing protocols are met.

“We’ve got a significant number of cases so we’ve had to deal with that,” Thompson said.

“We’ve had a couple of Zoom calls with members of staff in terms of how we’re going to sort the logistics out for the trip to Exeter, that was formalised yesterday, and preparation starts today [Friday].

“We’ll have a team going out that is competitive and hopefully they’ll get the job done.”

All being well, the club are hoping to be able to reopen their Middlewood Road training ground by midweek, allowing them at least some preparation time ahead of a vital Championship clash with Coventry City next weekend.

“Ten days isolation takes us to Tuesday inclusive. The idea is hopefully, the training ground will be opened up again on Wednesday 13.

“We have to see how everybody is, staff and players, in terms of preparing for the Coventry game.”

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