POYA Asbaghi has tested positive for Covid-19 and may miss his second game of the week on Saturday.

The Reds head coach felt ill from Sunday and has been isolating ever since, missing training and Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

He tested negative on lateral flow tests at the start of the week before a PCR test midweek showed he was positive.

Assistant Ferran Sibila led the team on Tuesday, with Asbaghi in contact via a phonecall from his apartment.

Barnsley host Bournemouth on Saturday, and Poya would need to test negative on two consecutive days to be in the dugout on Saturday.

Sibila said: “We hope we will be back but we don’t know yet. He is not too bad. When I speak to him, he can speak but sometimes he is coughing a little bit. He’s a really really hard-working person so to be home and not being at the club is really frustrating for him. He is always calling me and wanting to know how things are going.”

Striker Carlton Morris also tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week and missed Tuesday’s game. He is thought to be in the same situation as Asbaghi.

Josh Benson is back in training after injury but Callum Brittain and Clarke Oduor are still injured while Liam Kitching will not be back after sustaining a concussion on Saturday, but could return against Cardiff on Wednesday.

Sibila said: “Josh was making full training and is ready to make the squad. It is a good boost for us.

“It is difficult to say how long for the others. Brittain is getting closer and closer so let’s see how long it will be. Hopefully there will be no setbacks.”

Club captain Cauley Woodrow is out until at least March after knee surgery while Aapo Halme is also a long-term injury absentee.