Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to take charge for Newcastle United game after negative COVID-19 test

Pep Guardiola will be in charge of Manchester City's Premier League clash at Newcastle United on Sunday after returning a negative COVID-19 test.

The 50-year-old cancelled his pre-match press conference on Friday after his lateral flow test revealed an inconclusive result before arriving at the Citizens's training complex.

However, Guardiola has since taken a PCR test which has returned a negative result, meaning the Spaniard is free to take charge at St James' Park this weekend.

Guardiola recently made the trip to Catalonia to attend Sergio Aguero's retirement press conference on Wednesday at Camp Nou.

Had Guardiola tested positive for COVID-19 on his return to Manchester, the City boss would have been forced into a 10-day period of self-isolation, which would have ruled him out Sunday's trip to the North-East as well as the Boxing Day clash at home against Leicester City.

The Spaniard has since taken to the media to confirm that only Ferran Torres is unavailable for the Citizens, who are looking to claim their eighth successive Premier League win and stay at the top of the table.