COVID worry for Everton stars as int’l opponent tests positive
Ireland player Alan Browne has tested positive for COVID-19 after playing against England on Thursday in which Everton stars Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Michael Keane featured.
Both Everton men started the game against Ireland as England won 3-0 with Calvert-Lewin scoring England’s third from the penalty spot.
Following the game, the Irish FA confirmed Browne’s positive test which will come as a worry to the two Everton players as they both played against the midfielder at Wembley.
Everton skipper Seamus Coleman is also part of Ireland camp but the Irish FA have said that no other players were ‘close contacts’ of Browne meaning he won’t have to isolate.
Calvert-Lewin was withdrawn by Gareth Southgate in the 63rd-minute meaning he played an hour against Browne.
Keane played the full game, as did Browne, meaning that it is possible that either Everton player could have picked up the disease from the Ireland international.
This news will reignite the debate over why international football is being played during a worldwide pandemic. It seems that players are picking up the coronavirus at a higher rate than when they stay in their club ‘bubble’.
The England squad will presumably be tested ahead of their next international match and hopefully, all the players and staff will return negative results.
It would be a blow to Everton if either Keane or Calvert-Lewin were unavailable for the Toffees’ next match against Fulham as their club is desperate to end their torrid league form which has seen Carlo Ancelotti’s side lose their last three games.
In other Everton news, Anthony Gordon will not be leaving Goodison Park in January despite his lack of first-team minutes this season.