How Sheffield United boss will focus on transfer business during coronavirus-enforced break from training and playing

Wilder's men will train at home for the next fortnight because of the threat of Covid-19 spreading. Games had already been suspended until the end of April at least, while United's hopes of playing a behind-closed-doors friendly at Rotherham United last week were dashed by safety concerns.

But the United manager has no intention of switching off from football in that time - and will ramp-up his planning for the summer, both in terms of players he will bring in and ones he hopes to keep at Bramall Lane.

"The game grips you," said Wilder, whose side were seventh in the Premier League - with a game in hand on fifth-placed Manchester United - when the season postponement was announced.

"It’s with you 24/7. It’s very rare that you slip out of thinking about the game, the job, what you are trying to do. Even now, with all the restrictions and the suspension of football, we are talking about how we can maximise this time.

"We are looking at recruitment for the summer, really studying what we need, thinking about whether this is an opportunity to nail down some of the contracts players have been offered.

"We are very organised and proactive. We are planners as well. We are always studying other teams to educate ourselves."