IT will almost certainly prove to be an irrelevance, but Steve Bruce has revealed that Ciaran Clark is likely to miss Euro 2020 if the tournament takes place this summer and the Republic of Ireland qualify via the play-offs.

UEFA officials are due to meet on Tuesday to discuss plans for Euro 2020, which is scheduled to begin on June 12 and feature matches staged in 12 different countries. With a number of European associations concerned about how they are going finish their domestic league programmes, it is anticipated the European Championships will be put back 12 months and held in the summer of 2021 instead.

This month’s play-off matches will also be postponed, with Ireland having been due to travel to Slovakia on March 26.

Clark has already been ruled out of that game after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle last week. The defender sustained the problem in the recent defeat at Arsenal, forcing him to sit out the games against Crystal Palace and Southampton. Had the rest of season developed as planned, he would have been unavailable until the start of pre-season training in the summer.

He will begin his rehabilitation at Newcastle’s Little Benton training base in the next few days, and will be one of the few players present after the club’s fit first-team players were instructed to remain at home.

However, if UEFA were to unexpectedly opt to keep Euro 2020 in its current time slot, his participation would be in serious doubt.

“If Ireland qualify, and the Euros were to start on June 12, then I think it would be unlikely that he could play,” said Bruce. “I couldn’t see that.”

Martin Dubravka is also undergoing rehabilitation work after suffering a medial ligament strain in last weekend’s win at Southampton.

It had been anticipated that the Slovakian would be sidelined for around four weeks, so if the Premier League programme resumes as planned on April 4, there is a chance he could be able to return to action without having missed a game.

Andy Carroll’s fitness situation remains somewhat fluid, but it is also hoped the striker could be available for action by the start of next month. Given how long he has been absent, however, he would inevitably be short of match practice. As things stand, Newcastle will not be able to schedule any behind-closed-doors practice games involving other clubs while the Premier League’s coronavirus suspension remains in place.

The Premier League authorities hope to be able to complete the current season by its scheduled finishing date in mid-May. However, if the coronavirus situation worsens and matches are unable to resume on April 4, there is a chance the league schedule could spill over into June or even July if the Euros are postponed.

That would cause problems for all clubs, with players’ contractual situations potentially a significant issue. While Federico Fernandez signed a new one-year deal earlier this week, a number of Newcastle’s players are due to become free agents at the end of June, when it is possible the league season could still be ongoing.

Despite protracted contract discussions, Matty Longstaff is yet to agree new terms with the Magpies, and at least one overseas club is understood to have offered the teenage midfielder alternative terms.

Javier Manquillo is also due to become a free agent this summer, along with goalkeeper Rob Elliot and Carroll. Newcastle’s three January loan signings – Danny Rose, Valentino Lazaro and Nabil Bentaleb – are all due to return to their permanent employers in June.