West Ham manager David Moyes tests POSITIVE for coronavirus

West Ham have confirmed that manager David Moyes, along with two members of the first-team, have tested positive for coronavirus. 

Issa Diop and Josh Cullen, who were originally named in the starting XI for the game against Hull on Tuesday night, have also contracted COVID-19. All three left the London Stadium immediately as they heard of their results. 

Moyes, Diop and Cullen are asymptomatic and the match kicked-off at 7:30pm as planned, with assistant Manager Alan Irvine taking charge of the hosts for third round Carabao Cup tie. 

In addition, West Ham confirmed that they offered testing to the Hull City team before the game – an offer which was not accepted.  

Moyes, Diop and Cullen received their positive test results at 6:15pm, with those involved and the club unhappy at how late in the day the results came back – just 1 hour and 15 minutes before kick-off. 

Diop and Cullen were replaced in the starting XI by Harrison Ashby and Jack Wilshere, with goalkeeper David Martin a late inclusion on the substitutes bench.  

West Ham said in a statement: ‘West Ham United can confirm that David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen have returned positive tests for COVID-19. 

‘The Club’s medical team were informed of the test results as the team were at London Stadium preparing for this evening’s Carabao Cup third round tie against Hull City. The manager and both players immediately left the stadium and have returned home.

‘All three, who are asymptomatic, will now follow Public Health England and Premier League guidelines and protocols.

‘Everyone at West Ham United send their best wishes to David, Issa and Josh.

‘Tuesday’s match will go ahead as planned, with Assistant Manager Alan Irvine taking charge of the team.

‘The Club’s measures and protocols around COVID-19 remain stringent. This included offering to test the Hull City team ahead of tonight’s fixture – an offer which they opted not to accept.’

The announcement comes after Leyton Orient’s third-round clash with Tottenham was called off on Tuesday, with Sportsmail reporting on Monday that as many as 10 Orient players had tested positive for coronavirus. 

Hull striker Josh Magennis, who started for the Tigers on Tuesday, has previously voiced his concerns about football’s return amid the pandemic, particularly given he is asthmatic.  

‘I am concerned to be honest with you,’ Magennis told BBC Northern Ireland, back in May. 

‘You read what’s going on in the news. At the start we were told that it might not affect people with asthma too much, but now we hear that asthma is on the list of things that make people vulnerable.

‘I have asthma, I’ve had it for 10 years, and my youngest son has it. I wouldn’t say it is severe, but it is enough to disrupt what he is doing, especially when he is exercising.

‘I also saw on the news recently that ethnic minorities, black men and women, are more likely to suffer severe consequences if they catch coronavirus.

‘You are reading all of this and, you know what it is like when you are at home, there are loads of things going through your mind. You’re wondering what is going to happen.’