Newcastle manager Steve Bruce feels it is ‘morally wrong’ for football to carry on amid coronavirus cases and says Aston Villa playing kids ‘devalues’ FA Cup

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce believes it is ‘morally wrong’ for football to continue amid a rise in coronavirus cases at clubs.

The Magpies are still feeling the after-effects of their own coronavirus outbreak which forced the postponement of their Premier League match at Aston Villa on December 1.

Captain Jamaal Lascelles was only given the green light to resume training this week after shaking off the virus, while Alain Saint-Maximin has returned to Tyneside but is still awaiting the all-clear.

There has been a sharp rise in cases at other clubs in the Premier League with 40 positive coronavirus tests recorded in the last week alone.

There were also 112 cases in the latest round of testing in the EFL.

“We have had two players who were very, very sick and one or two members of staff who were nearly hospitalised,” said Newcastle boss Bruce.

“Financially it’s right to play on, but for me, morally, it’s probably wrong.

“I understand people want to see a game of football but we are just as vulnerable as everybody else.

“The speed which it hit our club within hours of each other, it was quite incredible how it rips through you. It’s difficult to contain and stop and it leaves people sick.”

Despite his own squad still struggling with the aftermath of its own outbreak, the Newcastle boss is determined to name a strong line-up for Saturday’s third-round trip to Arsenal.

Aston Villa and Derby are both set to field youth teams in their matches against Liverpool and Chorley respectively due to their squads being depleted due to the virus.

Bruce said: “I think it devalues the FA Cup.

“We understand the restrictions, the season has been squashed and there is no room for anything else. (But) to play weakened teams and your youth team is not the way round it for me, personally.”