Aston Villa’s Premier League upcoming home tie with Everton has been postponed.

Ongoing coronavirus issues at Villa are the reason for the move.

It is the second Premier League match in a week Villa have had called off.

Dean Smith’s side had already lost the midweek fixture against Spurs after the closure of their training ground a week ago.

That came after nine players and five staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The club had to field youth team players in the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool.

“Aston Villa’s home match against Everton, scheduled to be played on Sunday, January 17, has been postponed by the Premier League Board,” said a Premier League statement.

“Following the rescheduling of Villa’s fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, which was due to be played last night, a significant number of players and staff remain in isolation.

“As a result, the Premier League Board has agreed to Aston Villa’s request to postpone their match on Sunday.”

Villa were already two matches behind the majority of their rivals and that will rise to three at the weekend.

One of the matches they have in hand – the game at home to Newcastle which was postponed from December 4 after the north-east club’s own coronavirus outbreak – has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 23.

Premier League clubs were issued with new guidelines last week and chief executive Richard Masters has written to all to remind them of the “critical importance” of adhering to the protocols.

Villa plan to reopen their training ground this weekend.

“The club would like to express its immense gratitude to the medical experts who have helped us to get a significant Covid-19 outbreak under control, as well as the Premier League board and our fellow clubs for their understanding during this period,” a Villa statement said.

“We expect that members of the first-team squad and staff who are healthy and safe to return to training will do so on Sunday when the isolation protocols will have been observed.

“The club continues to wish all those affected by the virus a speedy recovery.”