Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will miss the team's next two Premier League matches after testing positive for COVID-19, the English club said on Saturday.

Gerrard, 41, who joined the club last month, will miss both Sunday's home game to Chelsea and Tuesday's trip to Leeds United while isolating.

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Former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard has led Villa to four wins in six league games since taking over as the manager after the club sacked Dean Smith.

Villa are 10th in the league on 22 points after 17 matches.

"Aston Villa can confirm Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for COVID-19," the club statement read.

Villa's league game at home to Burnley last week was postponed about two hours before kickoff due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club.

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A record 90 new COVID-19 cases were detected among Premier League players and staff in the past week, while 13 games have been postponed so far due to the virus.

Britain reported a record 122,186 new daily COVID-19 cases on Friday as it battles a surge in infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will miss the team's next two Premier League matches after testing positive for COVID-19, the English club said on Saturday. Gerrard, 41, who joined the club last month, will miss both Sunday's home game to Chelsea and Tuesday's trip to Leeds United while isolating.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard will miss the team's next two Premier League matches after testing positive for COVID-19, the English club said on Saturday. Gerrard, 41, who joined the club last month, will miss both Sunday's home game to Chelsea and Tuesday's trip to Leeds United while isolating. ALSO READ: 'Waste of time': Tottenham Hotspur FC boss Antonio Conte criticises Premier League's meeting with managers Former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard has led Villa to four wins in six league games since taking over as the manager after the club sacked Dean Smith. Villa are 10th in the league on 22 points after 17 matches. "Aston Villa can confirm Head Coach Steven Gerrard will be unable to attend our next two Premier League matches with Chelsea and Leeds United as he will be isolating after testing positive for COVID-19," the club statement read. Villa's league game at home to Burnley last week was postponed about two hours before kickoff due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the club. ALSO READ: Covid outbreak at Aston Villa made one player reluctant to get out of his car, reveals boss Steven Gerrard A record 90 new COVID-19 cases were detected among Premier League players and staff in the past week, while 13 games have been postponed so far due to the virus. Britain reported a record 122,186 new daily COVID-19 cases on Friday as it battles a surge in infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.

Premier League: Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard tests positive for COVID-19, to sit out two games

Aston Villa manager Steven&nbsp;Gerrard&nbsp;said fear of Covid-19 is so heightened that one of his players was reluctant to get out of his car.

An outbreak at Villa saw their match against Burnley last Saturday postponed at short notice, with&nbsp;Gerrard&nbsp;warning Wednesday that it will be a "nightmare" if the Midlands club have to tackle two matches in two days with just 14 players available.

"We had a situation at the weekend where one of the players was reluctant to get out of his car because he had some symptoms and he's got a young family, and you can totally understand his view in his situation,"&nbsp;Gerrard&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

"This is a guy who's got a young family, it is Christmas time, and that's the situation everyone is in."

The former Liverpool and England midfielder added: "No-one wants to get this virus. Everyone wants to protect their own families. This is our job and your priority is always going to be your family, of course it is.

"Thankfully he was tested after and he didn't have a situation, but that player would not have been available for me on the day, and these are the little situations that people don't see.

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"We've got a major responsibility to listen to the players and deal with every situation as it comes your way."

The Premier League announced on Monday its intention to continue with scheduled matches over the traditionally busy Christmas and New Year period, despite more than 90 confirmed coronavirus cases among players and staff in the last week.

Last weekend, six of 10 scheduled games in England's Premier League were called because of coronavirus outbreaks.

<h2>'Nobody takes welfare seriously'</h2>

The Premier League is due to hold 'virtual' meetings with managers and captains on Thursday to hear their concerns but Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson said officials needed to pay more attention to the welfare of players.

"Football to us is everything and we want to be able to perform at the highest level every time we set foot on the pitch," Henderson told the BBC. "And unfortunately, in this period it is difficult to do that."

The 31-year-old England midfielder added: "That has been like this for a few years now and it has been difficult but then, on top of that, you chuck in Covid and it becomes even harder and even worse.

"I am concerned that nobody really takes player welfare seriously."

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Liverpool were without a number of key players for their 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last&nbsp;weekend, including Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara.

That fixture is one of five games in two weeks for Liverpool, who face Leicester in a League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.

"I think decisions get made -- of course we want to play as footballers, we want to get out there and play -- but I am worried about player welfare and I don't think anybody does take that seriously enough, especially in this period, when Covid is here," Henderson said.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said fear of Covid-19 is so heightened that one of his players was reluctant to get out of his car. An outbreak at Villa saw their match against Burnley last Saturday postponed at short notice, with Gerrard warning Wednesday that it will be a "nightmare" if the Midlands club have to tackle two matches in two days with just 14 players available.

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard said fear of Covid-19 is so heightened that one of his players was reluctant to get out of his car. An outbreak at Villa saw their match against Burnley last Saturday postponed at short notice, with Gerrard warning Wednesday that it will be a "nightmare" if the Midlands club have to tackle two matches in two days with just 14 players available. "We had a situation at the weekend where one of the players was reluctant to get out of his car because he had some symptoms and he's got a young family, and you can totally understand his view in his situation," Gerrard said. "This is a guy who's got a young family, it is Christmas time, and that's the situation everyone is in." The former Liverpool and England midfielder added: "No-one wants to get this virus. Everyone wants to protect their own families. This is our job and your priority is always going to be your family, of course it is. "Thankfully he was tested after and he didn't have a situation, but that player would not have been available for me on the day, and these are the little situations that people don't see. ALSO READ: FIFA names 18 Indian referees, including four women, to its International list for 2022 "We've got a major responsibility to listen to the players and deal with every situation as it comes your way." The Premier League announced on Monday its intention to continue with scheduled matches over the traditionally busy Christmas and New Year period, despite more than 90 confirmed coronavirus cases among players and staff in the last week. Last weekend, six of 10 scheduled games in England's Premier League were called because of coronavirus outbreaks. 'Nobody takes welfare seriously' The Premier League is due to hold 'virtual' meetings with managers and captains on Thursday to hear their concerns but Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson said officials needed to pay more attention to the welfare of players. "Football to us is everything and we want to be able to perform at the highest level every time we set foot on the pitch," Henderson told the BBC. "And unfortunately, in this period it is difficult to do that." The 31-year-old England midfielder added: "That has been like this for a few years now and it has been difficult but then, on top of that, you chuck in Covid and it becomes even harder and even worse. "I am concerned that nobody really takes player welfare seriously." ALSO READ: League Cup: Liverpool beat Leicester in penalty shootout, Chelsea and Spurs qualify for semis Liverpool were without a number of key players for their 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, including Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara. That fixture is one of five games in two weeks for Liverpool, who face Leicester in a League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday. "I think decisions get made -- of course we want to play as footballers, we want to get out there and play -- but I am worried about player welfare and I don't think anybody does take that seriously enough, especially in this period, when Covid is here," Henderson said.

Covid outbreak at Aston Villa made one player reluctant to get out of his car, reveals boss Steven Gerrard

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Premier League: Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard tests positive for COVID-19, to sit out two games

Covid outbreak at Aston Villa made one player reluctant to get out of his car, reveals boss Steven Gerrard