Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and forward Gabriel Jesus test positive for COVID-19 on Christmas day

Manchester City confirmed on Christmas day that Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus have tested positive for the coronavirus along with two members of the club’s staff, whose identities have not been revealed.

Walker and Jesus are definitely going to miss City’s Premier League matches against Newcastle, Everton, and Chelsea, with a return possible for their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United on 6 January .

“All four personnel will now observe a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine,” City said in a statement released on Friday morning.

“Everyone at the club wishes our colleagues a speedy recovery over the Christmas period ahead of their return to work, training and competition.”

The positive tests from the Citizens was announced on Friday, 25 December 2020 and it coincides with a new surge of cases in the UK, with the 39,036 confirmed on Thursday marking the second-highest daily total since the pandemic began.

The figure brought the total number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 2,188,587.

City, however, has been dealt a huge blow with both Walker and Jesus out through coronavirus during the congested festive period.

Pep Guardiola’s side will entertain Newcastle United on Boxing Day, before making a trip to face Everton at Goodison Park just 48 hours later.

A trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea comes 6 days later, but the duo, who are obliged to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their positive test won’t still be available.

Guardiola might be forced to rely on City’s record goalscorer Sergio Aguero who he has been easing back to first-team action as the Argentine recovers from a knee injury.

In Walker’s absence, Joao Cancelo will play at right-back with Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko candidates to occupy the left-back position the Portugal defender has often filled in recent weeks.