Stuart Armstrong tests positive for Covid-19 after arriving for Scotland duty

Southampton midfielder Stuart Armstrong has tested positive for Covid-19 – and the south coast club’s players will train at home from Thursday before returning next week.

And Arsenal will be without Kieran Tierney when they face Manchester City after the international break with the left-back one of two Scotland players forced to quarantine for a fortnight as a result of Armstrong’s result.

Armstrong initially tested negative result following a check on Monday when he joined up with the Scotland squad.

Southampton will train at home until next week after Stuart Armstrong tested positive for Covid-19

Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney must quarantine as a result and will miss their Manchester City game

However, a follow-up UEFA test on Tuesday came back positive on Wednesday morning forcing him to withdraw from the Scotland squad for their upcoming triple header along with ‘close contacts’ Tierney and Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie.

They face Israel in a Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday and then Nations League games against Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Armstrong played the full 90 minutes in Southampton’s 2-0 win at West Brom on Sunday before heading off for international duty.

As a precaution, the club have now ordered their players to stay away from their training ground giving them time to carry out a thorough deep clean of the facility.

Those players not on international duty were already due to have the weekend off but will now also not attend their HQ on Thursday ahead of resuming training on Monday.

Southampton have ordered their players to stay away from the training ground from Thursday

Southampton’s remaining players and staff were also having their regular weekly tests on Wednesday so will discover if there has been any further spread within the club.

Armstrong, who will receive his club’s ‘full support’, will have to isolate for 10 days in line with government guidelines.

His isolation period starts from the date of the positive test, Tuesday October 6, meaning he will be free to face Chelsea on October 17 providing he has made the required recovery and provided the required negative result.

But Tierney, Christie and two members of Scotland’s staff will have to isolate for 14 days from Tuesday.

That would rule Tierney out of Arsenal’s trip to City on October 17 while Christie will miss the Old Firm derby against Rangers on the same day.

Ryan Christie and two members of Scotland’s staff will also have to isolate for 14 days

Both players will also sit out Scotland’s matches during this international break.

Scotland coach Steve Clarke said: ‘While this is obviously disappointing news the most important thing is the health and safety of the individuals involved and the wider group.

‘As soon as we were informed of the positive test, the Chief Medical Consultant immediately contacted the Scottish Government’s clinical adviser, who in turn alerted the local Health Protection Team.

‘We have informed the respective clubs from whom we have borrowed the players and backroom staff and we now have to prepare for a huge match ahead tomorrow.’