Crystal Palace new boy Jack Butland tests positive for coronavirus

Butland arrived in a deadline day deal from Championship side Stoke
Crystal Palace FC

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed that new signing Jack Butland has tested positive for Covid-19.

Butland joined Palace on the final day of the domestic transfer window last week, arriving from Stoke for a fee of around £1million.

The 27-year-old was brought in to challenge goalkeepers Vicente Guaita and Wayne Hennessey for a first-team place at Selhurst Park, but Hodgson has revealed he’s had a setback after testing positive for coronavirus.

“We needed to bring somebody in but no sooner did Jack sign did he test positive for coronavirus,” said Hodgson.

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“He’s stuck in a hotel room in London with a very boring existence. He’s self-isolating to take another test, hopefully be cleared and then I can answer the question a bit more about what it’s like that he’s with us.

“The good news is he’s feeling good, good but disappointed and frustrated that he’s seeing four walls and nothing else.”

Hodgson also provided an update on Gary Cahill and Jordan Ayew ahead of Palace’s game with Fulham this weekend.

Hodgson confirmed that he will be without Cahill for the trip to Fulham on Saturday after he was injured late on against Brighton last week, and that Ayew remains in self-isolation due to a positive Covid-19 test.

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“Gary’s not very good I’m afraid,” he said. “It was a nasty injury, so we’re still assessing it. He won’t be able to play tomorrow unless something miraculous happens tonight, but I’m hopeful it won't keep him out for weeks on end. But it’s too soon after the kick he took [to know fully].

“We’ve spoken a couple of times [to Ayew] on the phone of course because he’s self-isolating. Certainly the last time I spoke to him, I think at the end of yesterday, he felt he had no symptoms but was disappointed the test came up negative and to risk missing two games.”

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