Sheffield Wednesday's next two matches suspended due to Covid-19

The news comes after a significant Covid-19 outbreak forced the closure of the Owls' Middlewood Road training ground at the start of last week due to a number of positive tests among the club's backroom staff.

Interim manager Neil Thompson and interim assistants Lee Bullen and Steven Haslam were among a 'significant number of club personnel' to test positive - and they did not travel to Exeter City for the club's FA Cup third-round tie on Saturday, when academy coach Andy Holdsworth took the team with the fixture still staged.

Wednesday were only able to field four substitutes for the fixture.

It had been hoped that the training ground may have re-opened today (Wednesday).

Now, the club have revealed in a fresh statement that they are unable to fulfil their next two fixtures due to the ongoing situation with Covid and have informed the EFL.

An Owls statement read: "The club informed the EFL that we would be unable to fulfil the fixtures following recent positive COVID-19 tests and the requirement for players and staff to self-isolate as per EFL and Government guidance in order to mitigate against the risk of further infection.

"Revised dates for the rearranged fixtures will be confirmed in due course."

The EFL also confirmed the developments in a statement, while adding 'that the circumstances surrounding the postponements will now be the subject of an investigation in accordance with EFL regulations."

On Tuesday, the governing body confirmed that an additional 531 players and club staff from EFL clubs were tested as part of last week’s mandatory testing programme, with a further 11 positive cases returned.

Players or club staff who have tested positive must self-isolate for a period of 10 days in line with Government guidance.

Twice-weekly COVID-19 testing for all 72 EFL clubs began on Monday and the next set of results are expected on Tuesday, January 19.