Southgate confirms he tested positive for coronavirus last month

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Gareth Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed he contracted coronavirus last month but says ‘everything’s fine now’.

Reports emerged ahead of Sunday’s Nations League match in Belgium that the Three Lions boss tested positive around 25 October and self-isolated at home in North Yorkshire.

The Football Association refused to comment on the Sun on Sunday’s report, but Southgate confirmed the positive test after the 2-0 loss in Leuven.

England were beaten 2-0 in Belgium

England were beaten 2-0 in Belgium (Virgine Lefour/Belga/PA)

‘Look, I did have the virus,’ the England manager said. ‘I was fortunate [it was] not as serious as for so many people in our country.

‘But, yeah, not pleasant, not something you’d choose to have. But everything’s fine now.’

The answer is unlikely to placate Piers Morgan, who took to Twitter on Sunday afternoon demanding answers having been in contact with Southgate before the reported positive test date.

‘Hmmmm… England manager Gareth Southgate reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on Oct 25,’ he wrote on the social media site.

‘I was chatting with him on Oct 22 at GQ Heroes event, with the magazine’s editors.

‘He didn’t tell any of us he tested positive 3 days later. If dates are correct, that’s disgraceful.’

Morgan added in a later Twitter post: ‘I have some questions for Gareth Southgate: 1) When exactly did you first became covid symptomatic?

‘2) Was the test on Oct 25 routine or because you had symptoms?

‘3) Why did you not tell people you knew who you’d been with on Oct 22 that you tested positive?’