PARTICK THISTLE'S Championship fixture with Inverness on Boxing Day has been postponed following an outbreak of Covid at the Caley Jags.

The Jags were set to make the long journey north to the Highlands to face Billy Dodds' side for the third time this season but the match will now be played at a later date that is still to be decided.

A statement from Inverness read: "Following a breakout of Covid in the first team squad and allied to the current number of injuries within the team, the club unfortunately has to confirm that we are unable to fulfil this Sunday’s Boxing Day match with Partick Thistle.

"We had no choice with only eight available players, two of whom were goalkeepers."

Inverness chief executive Scott Gardiner told the club's website: “We knew that we were struggling to make the numbers required but had to wait on confirmation with tests and injury prognosis which is why we were unable to make a statement sooner. We then had to have the postponement confirmed by the SPFL. Since the pandemic began, we have not requested one game to be postponed, something we were proud of, but on this occasion, the virus caught up with us.

“The safety of our players and staff is our first priority and as hard as we were recently hit as a club by the virus, we have not had to consider this option before and we trust our supporters will understand our position and not be too disappointed re the loss of this Christmas match.

“Given the new restrictions and the pressures on the club staff and our external partners, we are currently considering what route we are going to take with the next scheduled home match on January 8th.

“As late as yesterday afternoon, we were still learning what the detail of the new regulations were and have even seen other clubs publishing statements which interpret them completely differently from how we and some others have. Therefore, we will make sure we have absolute clarity before making our final decision and we will have some conversations with supporters in advance of making an announcement.

“The safety of our supporters and our community remains paramount in our minds just now and even as we have players and staff out and about with our Community Trust, delivering Christmas Hampers as part of the SPFL Trust Festive Friends project, the important part our club plays in the community becomes ever more evident to all of us.

“On behalf of the chairman Ross Morrison, the board of directors, management, players and staff, I would like to wish all Caley Jags, their friends and loved ones the world over, a very Happy Christmas and we hope that we can bring you all a very special 2022, both on the field and off it."

Partick Thistle next play on Wednesday 29 December when they face Ayr United at Firhill, followed up by another home game, this time against Morton, on Sunday 2 January.