Middlesbrough confirm case in Championship's latest coronavirus tests

The second-tier clubs have been carrying out twice-weekly testing of players and staff since returning to group training, and so far there have been 15 from 3,102 tests.

Boro have confirmed they were one of eight clubs to produce a positive from the third wave, which examined 1,058 people.

Although there have been twice as many cases in the latest round of tests as in the previous two combined, a rate of just 0.48 per cent is still remarkably encouraging as the Championship looks to return to contact training, then matches.

Premier League clubs returned to contact training on Thursday, the day they announced they are aiming to resume matches on June 17. The Championship were a week behind the top division in resuming group training, and will be monitoring developments closely as they aim to complete their programme by July 31.

Despite the fact they would be promoted as champions if the Football League's plans for an early abandonment came into force, Championship leaders Leeds United are one of the clubs keen to see their nine remaining matches completed. Hull City, currently outside the relegation zone but only by two points, have been the most high-profile opponents. Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town would also be embroiled in a relegation battle were the 2019-20 season to start up again.

Clubs are not required to announce if they have had any positive tests, but Preston North End have confirmed striker Jayden Stockley was one, and Fulham and Cardiff City have said they had one case each. Barnsley, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday are understood to have been given a clean bill of health.

All those who have tested positive during the process will self-isolate for seven days and not return to their club's training ground until they have tested positive.

Championship clubs returned to training on May 25 after the first round of tests which produced only two positive results, both at Hull.

Fulham had two positive cases in the second round, when Blackburn Rovers captain Elliott Bennett was also found to have the virus.

The four League Two clubs due to contest the play-offs if proposals to play them, but not the rest of the season, are approved on June 8 were involved in the latest round of testing for the first time, and between them, Exeter City, Cheltenham Town, Colchester United and Northampton Town produced seven positives from 135 tests.

League One clubs are yet to resume testing, with no agreement about whether or how the season should be resumed.

There were no positive results from the Premier League's fourth round of testing, their first since the resumption of contact training, taking their overall tally to 12 from 3,882, or 0.31 per cent.

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