Azkals' Neil Etheridge hospitalized after contracting COVID-19

Philippine Azkals' goalkeeper Neil Etheridge  is currently hospitalized after contracting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

On Twitter, Wednesday, his club Birmingham City FC bared the 31-year-old Filipino-British booter is receiving treatment for the virus.

"On behalf of the Board, the staff, the players and everyone connected to the Club, we're all behind Neil and willing him on in his battle against COVID-19," said the club's technical director Craig Gardner.

"We're in constant contact with his close family and will continue to support them in any way we can," he said. "He's in the best possible hands and we’re hopeful we can all welcome him home at the earliest opportunity."

"We’re in constant contact with his close family and will continue to support them in any way we can.

"He’s in the best possible hands and we’re hopeful we can all welcome him home at the earliest opportunity."

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) July 14, 2021

Etheridge was supposed to suit up for the national team during the joint Asian Qualifiers for the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in UAE last month. However, he was dropped from the roster due to injury.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News