England duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell are doubts for Tuesday’s Euro 2020 clash with the Czech Republic after going into self-isolation as a precaution following their interaction with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who has tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mount and Chilwell embraced and spoke to Gilmour following England’s Euro 2020 draw with Scotland at Wembley on Friday, with their Chelsea team-mate returning a positive test on Monday.
Both Mount and Chilwell – along with the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad – have returned negative lateral flow tests for Covid-19, but it remains unclear whether the duo will be available to play in Tuesday’s final group-stage match against the Czech Republic.
Mason Mount challenges Billy Gilmour at Wembley
Asked if the pair will be fit for Tuesday’s game, Southgate replied: “We don’t know at the moment.
“There’s obviously got to be quite a doubt but there’s still a lot of discussions and investigations going on behind the scenes, so at the moment they’re isolating and we just have to find out over the next 12 hours or so.”
A statement from the Football Association read: “As a precaution at this time and in consultation with Public Health England, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are isolating after interaction with Scotland player Billy Gilmour at Friday’s match.
“The pair will be kept away from the rest of the England players and wider support team, pending further discussions with PHE. The entire squad had lateral flow tests on Monday afternoon and all were again negative, as was the case with Sunday’s UEFA pre-match PCR tests.
“We will continue to follow all Covid-19 protocols and the UEFA testing regime, while remaining in close contact with PHE.”
Mount had been due to appear at the pre-match press conference alongside England boss Southgate on Monday evening.
Gilmour, who impressed against England in his first international start, has been ruled out of Scotland’s final group-stage match against Croatia, with all four teams in Group D still able to qualify for the knockout stages.
Ben Chilwell did not feature against Scotland but spoke to Gilmour at full-time
Scotland have not been instructed to put any other players into self-isolation following Gilmour’s positive test.
When asked about the coronavirus protocols, manager Steve Clarke replied: “It’s not my department. My department is getting the team ready for a massive game against Croatia and that’s what I have been concentrating on.”
On Gilmour, manager Clarke said: “He’s upset, as you would expect. He has no symptoms, hopefully his health will hold up.
“Billy would have started the game and now he won’t so it’s a chance for someone else to come into the team and make themselves a national hero.”
