Kenny Jackett offers health update on five Portsmouth players struck down by coronavirus

Although he is unable to pinpoint how they contracted the pandemic.

Jack Whatmough and the four unnamed team-mates were in the Blues’ squad for last Friday’s 2-0 win at Hull.

Whatmough fell ill on the morning of the game, while the others have since failed tests.

As a result, Pompey’s Boxing Day fixture against Swindon and the trip to Bristol Rovers (December 29) have been postponed.

Meanwhile, the training ground has been shut since Sunday as a precaution.

Jackett told The News: ‘Although we have five positive tests and there are few people feeling slightly rough and the worse for wear, there are no serious cases.

‘Aside from the lads that have been affected, the rest of the boys are all good.

‘We need this bit of a break to make sure that it stops circulating. Also for the guys who have been in direct contact, it will help them recover.

‘Coronavirus cases in football only reflect society. There’s an increase in cases in our area, we have moved into tier four, so that is obviously reflected in the players and number of cases we have.

‘We have to make sure it doesn’t spread, so have closed the training ground down for a few days and hopefully can pick it up again next week.

‘There is nobody in a bad way, if you like, but there are a few people feeling rough.’

Pompey’s training bubble had this season been highly effective in keeping out the effects of coronavirus.

That was until the end of last week.

Jackett added: ‘All five players travelled to Hull, but didn’t necessarily come into contact with Jack more than anyone else, not that we can see.

‘It is very difficult to estimate how it happened. You can go for a challenge with an opposition player or maybe a clash in training.

‘Trying to trace back is almost impossible when you start looking at the permutations.’

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