Middlesbrough welcome players who contracted Covid-19 back into training

The club carried out testing at the beginning of last week and confirmed a number of players and staff had contracted the virus ahead of their third-round FA Cup contest with Brentford.

All players who returned positive tests are back in training and available for selection as Boro prepare to welcome Birmingham to the Riverside tomorrow.

"They are all back in training today and we will have a look at what the situation is," confirmed manager Neil Warnock.

"We haven't been able to do much anyway with the weather up here. We will look today at how they are.

"They are a bright group. Overall, they have all come back really well. They have all been working at home to a very good level."

Warnock emphasised the importance of adhering to Covid-19 protocols and believes that football is providing a mental uplift to supporters at home.

Select professionals have broken Covid-19 restrictions and Warnock says it is up to his squad to be "100 per cent responsible" once they leave the training ground.

He continued: "We all realise the fans are desperate for the football so we have got to take that on board.

"I don't think we can take our foot off the pedal, we have all got to be really vigilant on this.

"We have got to try and keep our training ground like it is. That means the players once they leave the training ground have got to be 100 per cent responsible."

He added: "I had Covid-19 earlier in the year, I have no idea how I got it. It doesn't take much."

Marcus Browne is unlikely to feature on Saturday after he suffered a dislocated kneecap at Brentford. He is set to meet with a consultant today.

Warnock said: "He sees a consultant today (Friday), it doesn't look very good.

"But we are not going to jump to conclusions until he sees the consultant."

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