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Manchester City players Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez have both tested positive for the global virus, the club confirmed with a statement.

“Both players are currently observing a period of self-isolation in accordance with Premier League and UK Government protocol on quarantine. Neither is displaying symptoms of the virus. Everyone at the Club wishes Riyad and Aymeric a speedy recovery ahead of their return to training and the new season,” the club statement read.

Mahrez responded to messages of support from City fans and thanked them on Twitter. "Thank you for all the nice messages, I'm good. Stay safe everyone, take care of you."

Laporte also thanked fans and vowed that he would be back in action soon. "Thanks, everyone for your messages, everything is going as well as possible, I am following the protocol for the next few days and I will be back soon, take care of yourself," he tweeted.

The City duo will be hoping to recover in time for the team’s first match of the new Premier League season.

Unlike most clubs, City’s first game will take place in the second week of the new campaign and will see them square off against Wolverhampton Wanderers away at the Molineux Stadium for a Monday night game on September 21.

City and neighbours Manchester United will skip the opening weekend of Premier League action after being allowed to sit out the first weekend of the campaign following their late finish to the 2019-20 season because of their Champions League and Europa League exertions respectively.

Both teams will play two league matches and an EFL Cup game in September. City’s two matches in the Premier League this month will see them travel to Wolves followed by their first home match of the season against Leicester City on September 27.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lee Smith, Richard Heathcote

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Manchester CityRiyad Mahrez - Midfielder English Premier League