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Michael O\u2019Neill returned to Stoke training on Friday after a period of self-isolation due to a positive test for coronavirus.<\/p>\nMichael O\u2019Neill returned to Stoke training on Friday after a period of self-isolation due to a positive test for coronavirus.<\/p>\n
Stoke had to cancel a friendly at Manchester United\u2019s training ground at short notice on June 9 when O\u2019Neill was informed of his positive test while en route to Carrington, and the 50-year-old has been confined to his apartment since.<\/p>\n
But the former Shamrock Rovers and Northern Ireland manager said he had remained symptom-free and is now returning ahead of Saturday\u2019s Championship fixture away to Reading.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s certainly a new experience,\u201d O\u2019Neill said on the club\u2019s YouTube channel. \u201cThis has been my ninth day in self-isolation in my apartment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a little bit frustrating at times, there\u2019s no doubt about that, but I\u2019m also thankful that as yet I haven\u2019t developed any symptoms despite having a positive test.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully that will continue and I will look forward to getting back around the team.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill admitted news of his positive test came as a shock, but he was grateful to find out before he had entered United\u2019s Carrington facility and potentially caused greater problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is an initial shock,\u201d he said. \u201cYou do obviously fear you\u2019ll get the symptoms and I know how many families have been affected. I\u2019m thankful that at this moment in time I\u2019m still symptom free.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Billy McKinlay taking charge of first-team affairs in his absence, O\u2019Neill has been watching training sessions online, while doing his best to follow friendly matches against Derby on what he admitted was a rather jumpy connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel we\u2019re as prepared as we can be going into the game on Saturday,\u201d he said. \u201cNo doubt my absence has been a hiccup but the team has been brilliant in making sure the disruption has been minimal.\u201d<\/p>\n
O\u2019Neill, who took charge of the Potters in November, has steered them out of the Championship\u2019s bottom three but they are only three points clear of the relegation zone and have plenty of work still left to do to ensure they stay in the league.<\/p>\n
\u201cThough our last game was a 5-1 win (over Hull) it counts for nothing, we are just starting again with no form,\u201d O\u2019Neill said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe object for us is purely to get points on the board. We\u2019re focused on ourselves but we want to make sure even if we get points early on that we finish the season as strongly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a short break and then we follow into next season. I\u2019ve said to the players we\u2019re pretty much going into a 55-game season. That\u2019s how we have to think of it.\u201d<\/p>\n