Three Watford players are due to miss the club’s next three matches after it was revealed they were self-isolating following positive Covid-19 tests.

The news broke ahead of their goalless draw at Bristol City on Wednesday evening, with the Hornets releasing a brief statement via their Twitter account that said: “We can confirm three professionals from the first-team squad are currently serving a 10-day period of isolation due to positive tests for Covid-19.

“EFL protocols have been followed and the club’s medical team have been in constant contact with relevant authorities.”

While the club remain keen to respect those players who have tested positive and not reveal their identities, head coach Vladimir Ivic did confirm that it would mean the club would be without key first-team players for games against Preston North End, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City.

Speaking after the 0-0 draw, he said: “I don’t want to speak about names.

“We did tests a lot of times and I respect the players, I respect the club and I will not speak about that.

Watford Observer:

“Unfortunately [they will miss] the next three games. The period is like this, we cannot do something about it. No one is happy because of that but with Covid you never know from where it can come and we try to protect ourselves and all in the club work on this and hope that they will be good and they will soon be with us, like the other guys who have come in after the injuries.”

Six members of staff from the club tested positive earlier in the year.