Getty Images

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been forced to cancel his pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle United vs. Manchester City this weekend after returning an "inconclusive" COVID-19 test result.

The Spaniard must now wait to for the results of a PCR test which, if positive, could potentially see the clash fall victim to the Omicron spike which the Premier League is already struggling to deal with.

The press briefing was cancelled just 30 minutes before it was due to start as a precaution just three days after Guardiola oversaw City's crushing win over Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United on Tuesday with Sunday's clash at St James' Park already just one of only five Premier League matches going ahead as the league struggles with club outbreaks.

Craving even more coverage of the world's game? Listen below and follow ¡Qué Golazo! A Daily CBS Soccer Podcast where we take you beyond the pitch and around the globe for commentary, previews, recaps and more.

On Monday, Guardiola admitted that there had been positive tests within staff ranks while the Women's Super League game with Reading has been called off after the midweek clash with Leicester City was also postponed.

As of now the match remains on the schedule, with the start time adjusted 15 minutes from 9:15 to 9 a.m ET.

Should City's trip to Newcastle fall victim to COVID-19, that would leave just four of the ten Premier League fixtures standing this weekend with a backlog of postponed matches heading into the festive period.

Such an outcome would likely add to calls for there to be a break from action in an attempt to curb the cancellation of games and the spread between squads.