A third first-team player from Brighton & Hove Albion tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, the Premier League club’s chief executive Paul Barber has confirmed.

“It is a concern. Unfortunately we’ve had a third player test positive yesterday,” Barber told Sky Sports.

Two Brighton players had contracted the novel coronavirus in March and April and the latest positive result could cast doubts on the Premier League’s plans to resume the season that has been suspended due to the pandemic, Reuters reports.

Clubs are due to meet on Monday to further discuss “Project Restart” which envisages a return to play in June once given the green light from government, with the remaining 92 matches held behind closed doors at neutral venues.