The Premier League are considering expanding their Covid-19 testing programme to include academy players for the first time amid concerns about the virus spreading among youth-team players.
The Premier League's under-18 league returned last weekend after a month-long break, but only three matches were played following a mass of postponements due to the virus.
A number of clubs are testing academy players regularly, but there is no centralised programme such as that running at senior level which sees all first-team players tested twice-a-week.
In an indication of the growing concerns about the virus spreading at youth level, Chelsea closed their academy training last week following several positive tests — all players and members of staff were told to isolate for 10 days.