Championship club Birmingham City has confirmed that goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is being treated in hospital for coronavirus. The 31-year-old Philippines international recently returned at the end of June to Birmingham for preseason training, but now he is being treated in hospital after contracting the virus.
“The club can confirm that @Neil38Etheridge is currently receiving treatment in hospital for COVID-19,” read a club statement on Twitter.
“Everyone at #BCFC is sending him all our strength and best wishes.”
The Club can confirm that @Neil38Etheridge is currently receiving treatment in hospital for COVID-19.
Everyone at #BCFC is sending him all our strength and best wishes. 💙 pic.twitter.com/wCSqfwUrjB
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) July 14, 2021
Craig Gardner, the club’s technical director, and former midfielder told the club’s website, “On behalf of the Board, the staff, the players and everyone connected to the club, we’re all behind Neil and willing him on in his battle against COVID-19. We’re in constant contact with his close family and will continue to support them in any way we can. He’s in the best possible hands and we’re hopeful we can all welcome him home at the earliest opportunity.”
The club signed him from Championship rivals Cardiff City in September last year. During his debut season with Blues, he appeared in 43 Championship matches as they finished in 18th place after flirting with relegation. The highly infectious Delta variant continues to spread in the UK, where 36,660 new cases and 50 deaths were recorded on Tuesday. Presently, 2,700 people with the virus are in hospitals. Total vaccinations have reached 45,978,017, including 54,296 first-time doses and 125,360 second-time doses on Tuesday.
On August 7, Birmingham opens the new Championship season against recently relegated Premier League side Sheffield United.
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