Hibs' Alex Gogic ‘very sad’ to withdraw from first Cyprus squad due to false positive Covid test

Maiden cap dream put on hold as midfielder forced into self-isolation

Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic has been forced to withdraw from his first ever Cyprus squad. Pic: Mark Scates - SNS Group

Hibs midfielder Alex Gogic has been forced to withdraw from his first ever Cyprus squad following a “false positive” test for Covid-19.

The 26-year-old missed his club’s 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen on Sunday after returning a positive result during Hibs’ routine Covid-19 testing on Friday.

Despite two further tests returning negative outcomes, Gogic has been instructed to spend 10 days in self-isolation, meaning he is unable to join up with Cyprus for the Nations League matches against Montenegro this Saturday, and Azerbaijan next Tuesday.

Confirming the news on his Twitter page, Gogic wrote: “I’m very sad and disappointed to announce that I cannot join the national team for these two upcoming games.

"Unfortunately on Friday I returned a false positive Covid-19 test. Since then I have returned two Covid-19 tests proving I am negative and do not have the virus.

"Everybody in my household returned negative results.

"I have been instructed to follow the Scottish guidelines so I have to isolate at home for 10 days.

"Good luck to Cyprus national team. I’ll be cheering from home and hopefully see you in October.”

Gogic, whose father Sinisa earned 38 caps for Cyprus, received his first call-up after catching the eye of new national coach Johan Walem with impressive performances in Hibs’ opening five fixtures of the season following his summer move from Hamilton Accies.

Hibs boss Jack Ross hit out at the lack of clarity over the coronavirus testing saga, stating: “I don’t think it would be the case for anybody in any other profession that they wouldn’t be able to go to their work, having had a negative NHS Covid test.

“The rules are there. What I will say is that there are some big games coming up in Scotland soon. If there is a recurrence of this and a player with two negative tests comes out of the game, then it will be interesting to see the fall out from that if that was to happen."