Pep Guardiola: Manchester City manager returns negative Covid result ahead of Newcastle game

Guardiola had returned an ‘inconclusive’ result earlier in the day but he will now take charge at St James’ Park

Pep Guardiola will be able to take charge of Manchester City this weekend after returning a negative Covid-19 test result.

Guardiola had to do a follow-up PCR on Friday after he returned an “inconclusive” result ahead of City's Premier League fixture away to Newcastle United.

The City manager's pre-match press conference to preview the trip to St James' Park was cancelled as a result of the uncertainty earlier in the day.

As it stands, City's trip to Newcastle on Sunday is still expected to go ahead. It is one of only five top-flight fixtures which are set to take place this weekend following a spate of Covid-related cancellations.

Nine Premier League games in total have been postponed over the past week due to Covid, with some within the game calling for an immediate ‘circuit break'.

Top-flight clubs will discuss the escalating crisis in a meeting on Monday. The Premier League's current policy is to carry on playing matches which have been deemed safe to go ahead.

If Guardiola had been unable to lead City on Sunday, assistants Juanma Lillo, Rodolfo Borrell and Carlos Vicens were expected to head the coaching staff.

A 10-day self-isolation period would have also meant that Guardiola missed the Boxing Day fixture against Leicester City at the Etihad.