Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock tests positive for coronavirus

The club have stressed that the 71-year-old is 'in good spirits' and they are looking forward to welcoming the Yorkshireman back to work after a period in isolation.

Sheffield-born Warnock was not on the touchline in Boro's Carabao Cup home exit to Barnsley at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night with assistant manager Kevin Blackwell and first-team coach Ronnie Jepson on the touchline.

Jepson spoke to the press afterwards, with Warnock thought to have watched the game in the West Stand.

All of Boro's coaching staff have recorded negative test results.

A Boro statement read: "The club can confirm that our manager Neil Warnock has returned a positive test for Covid-19 and will be spending a period in isolation in accordance with guidelines.

"Neil is in good spirits and we look forward to welcoming him back after his period in isolation."

Former Sheffield United, Leeds United, Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United boss Warnock joined Boro in late June, initially on a short-term basis.

After helping the club stave off relegation, the 71-year-old, based in Cornwall, signed a permanent contract to manage the Teessiders.

Boro welcome Bournemouth on Saturday in their home opener, with 1,000 supporters able to attend.

It is one of eight games which is part of the government’s pilot event programme to reintroduce spectators to venues on a socially-distanced basis amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reacting to the news, Rotherham manager Paul Warne, who worked with Warnock during his short spell at the club in 2016, said: "I've got a lot of time for the 'gaffer.'

"I send him my best wishes publicly and I'll get in in touch with him privately. I hope he's going to be all right.

"I loved him when he was manager here. I was fitness coach back then. He was very quirky. You pick up different things from different managers. I liked the fact he would walk around a dressing room and just speak to someone and make them feel like a million dollars.

"It made me realise the power of a manager. He made you feel like you were better than you really were, if that makes sense. That's a skill on its own. I really like him. I get on well with Blacky (Kevin Blackwell) and Jeppo (Ronnie Jepson) as well. I think the three of them were a really good 'dream team'. I was sorry to hear the news.