SWINDON Town players will be checked for Covid-19 twice a week from Monday January 11 after the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and EFL announced a new league-wide testing programme on Wednesday.

Starting on Monday, all 72 English Football League clubs will have regular Covid tests paid for by the PFA in addition to continuing to maintain match day and non-match day protocols put in place at the start of the season.

The introduction of the inclusive testing programme follows on from the recent mandatory tests that each EFL club received at the start of this week.

Previously, League One and Two clubs had been tested just a handful of times since the season restarted – something that caused concern among many people in football.

Earlier this week, Rochdale CEO David Bottomley said he felt the suspension of the EFL season was “inevitable” after an alarming number of games were postponed in League One due to Covid-19.

Some teams – such as Town’s next opponents, Ipswich Town – have already declared they are Covid-free after the recent mandatory round of testing.

This followed a Christmas programme for the Tractor Boys that was decimated by 11 positive tests among players and coaching staff.

Further to this, Ipswich manager Paul Lambert may still be absent from Saturday’s game against Swindon on Sky Sports after continuing to struggle with the after-effects of the illness, per the East Anglian Daily Times.

There has been no confirmation either way from Swindon Town yet whether the club has picked up any further positive cases after Diallang Jaiyesimi recovered from the illness in mid-November.

In a statement released by the EFL on Wednesday evening, PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor said: “In the light of the current increase in Covid-19 cases, and the resulting further tightening of government regulations, the PFA and the EFL have agreed enhanced measures to help protect players, staff and their families.

“Football has provided temporary relief for many fans during the lockdown. PFA members, alongside millions of people, have worked hard and played a positive role throughout the pandemic.

“We believe that this comprehensive and expansive approach to testing will help support clubs and be an important factor in maintaining fixtures and ensuring that football can continue during this challenging period.”