Former Leeds United defender joins coronavirus testing company to aid Premier League Project Restart

Former Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand has reportedly been tasked with helping to convince Premier League players of their safety when they return to play.
PLAYER ENGAGEMENT - Rio Ferdinand will reportedly help with the efforts to convince Premier League players over safety of a return to action. Pic: GettyPLAYER ENGAGEMENT - Rio Ferdinand will reportedly help with the efforts to convince Premier League players over safety of a return to action. Pic: Getty
PLAYER ENGAGEMENT - Rio Ferdinand will reportedly help with the efforts to convince Premier League players over safety of a return to action. Pic: Getty

According to the i newspaper, Ferdinand has been brought in to assist with player engagement by the firm who will do coronavirus testing for the top flight, Project Screen by Circle (PSC).Earlier today it was revealed that Premier League clubs have agreed to the first stage of the return to training protocols, meaning players can start training in small groups, without contact, as of Tuesday.

A number of Premier League stars, including Sergio Aguero, Troy Deeney and Danny Rose, have voiced concerns over the health and safety of players and their families, if they return to action.

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Watford's Deeney told Good Morning Britain: "I think the concern is very much that Phases Two [when players start contact training] and Three have not been clearly laid out

“There has been a lot of what I would class as simple questions that have not been answered."

The i say that Ferdinand's role with PSC, who will enable the testing of Premier League players twice a week, could provide reassurance over concerns of infection.

Tests are already being carried out by top flight clubs, with samples sent to a private laboratory for processing, before results are sent back to medical staff at the clubs.

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Championship clubs, meanwhile, are working towards a provisional date of May 25 for a return to training.

The EFL have set up working groups to explore the operational changes that will need to be made to allow games to go ahead behind closed doors.