Estimate for Leeds United's Championship return given as second tier sides prepare for testing and training

The Premier League and EFL seasons remain suspended amidst the country's battle against coronavirus but Premier League clubs approved the return to small group training on Monday at a Project Restart Meeting.

Following testing for Covid-19 at top-flight clubs over the last two days, clubs in the Premier League will return to training from Tuesday afternoon whilst Championship clubs will begin testing their players for coronavirus on Thursday and Friday ahead of a potential return to training next Monday.

Once resuming training, players must practise social distancing at all times with contact training not permitted at this stage. The next stage is the return to contact training.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has already stated that the EFL season must be completed by July 31 - when around 1,400 players will be out of contract.

The EFL were expecting their remaining fixtures to take 56 days to be played meaning a potential race against time but the YEP understands that the EFL are now working towards restarting the season on Saturday, June 20.

Clubs would then play for five consecutive weekends with four sets of mid-week matches in between, ending the regular season on Saturday, July 18 if there are no hiccups and Dowden expects action in English football's second tier to be back underway swiftly after the Premier League resume.

“I’m very hopeful that we will by the middle of June see the return of the Premier League and then soon after that the Championship," said Dowden, speaking on talkSPORT.

Talking on Sky Sports News, Dowden said: "I had some very constructive discussions on Thursday with the FA, the EFL and the Premier League.

“We are working hard with them to get it back, we’re aiming for mid-June but the number one test is public safety.

"If we can do this in a safe way… they are looking at returning behind closed doors and they have met with Public Health England several times to look at the safety of that.

“If we can sort that out then I am hoping we can resume in mid-June."

Testing for coronavirus at top-flight clubs has taken place over the last two days, and will continue throughout the training period and the return to match action in a bid to make the environment as safe as possible for all concerned.

And the YEP understands that whilst recent advice recommended players were tested once a week, Championship clubs will follow the Premier League's decision to test their players twice a week.

Premier League clubs unanimously approved plans to resume training in small groups from Tuesday as part of the competition's Project Restart strategy.

Testing for coronavirus at top-flight clubs has taken place over the last two days, and will continue throughout the training period and the return to match action in a bid to make the environment as safe as possible for all concerned.

The league was suspended on March 13 but no date for a resumption has yet been fixed.

The protocols were presented to players and managers on conference calls which took place last week.

A Premier League statement read: "Strict medical protocols of the highest standard will ensure everyone returns to training in the safest environment possible.

"The health and well-being of all participants is the Premier League's priority, and the safe return to training is a step-by-step process.

"Full consultation will now continue with players, managers, clubs, the PFA and LMA as protocols for full-contact training are developed."

Newcastle were one of the first top-flight clubs to issue confirmation that players had been tested at the club's training ground.

The club said players would return on Tuesday, by which time all test results would be known.

"Players and staff will arrive at pre-arranged times staggered in groups of a maximum of 10 players, with each working in groups of no more than five in separate areas of two pitches to allow for social distancing measures at all times," the club's statement read.

"Players will arrive in their training kit, parking their cars at least three spaces apart, and will head straight out to the field, with no access to the main building.

"They will then leave immediately after training. All equipment - including balls, corner flags, cones, goalposts, GPS units, boots and gloves - will be regularly disinfected and players will wear protective snoods on their faces at all times."

Players will be asked to use an app on a daily basis to record any symptoms.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you. In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777