Report details six-figure sum West Brom must pay for COVID-19 player tests

West Brom players and staff will be tested for COVID-19 on Thursday and Friday ahead of resuming training next Monday, according to the Express & Star.

The newspaper claims that the players who test negative for coronavirus will be able to train in small groups of four or five while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Those who test positive will be sent away to self-isolate for seven days before being tested again.

Leicestershire-based company Nationwide Pathology has been hired by the EFL to carry out the testing, which is different from the company used by the Premier League, and it is understood that all Championship clubs will have to incur the cost.

It means that West Brom will have to pay around £140,000 for their players and staff to be tested, which will take place twice a week, and although the club will learn of the results within 24 hours, they will not be made public.

Albion partially re-opened their training ground last Wednesday as the club felt there was less chance of players being infected there than doing their exercise in public spaces.

Charlie Austin is the only Baggies player to have reported having symptoms consistent with coronavirus.

He has since made a full recovery and, hopefully, no one else connected with the Baggies test positive in the coming days.

In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips has concerns about this big-money player who is wanted by the Baggies.