'It's no joke, this' - Former Sheffield United favourite Stephen Quinn reveals worry as his nurse wife helps fight coronavirus
Stephen Quinn, the former Sheffield United midfielders, believes doctors and nurses "should be on Premier League wages" after revealing his wife is on the front line, tacking the current coronavirus crisis.
Quinn's wife Vanessa is an NHS nurse and the couple have three children together. The former Blade, who played over 200 times for United, is currently at Burton Albion.
"The kids know there is something going on because they are not in school, and we've tried to explain to them what's happening without worrying them more than they need to," Quinn told The Daily Star.
"We've told them that Mummy is going to be helping sick people and doing her bit to help. It's incredible. There is no worry on Vanessa's part. She's bloody made for it. She's ready to tackle it and do her bit.
"It's like 'f*****g hell, she's going to be on the proper front line’. Everything else doesn't matter anymore. There are people dying from this virus. I'm worried about her. This is what she wants to do and we just all have to try and get through this.
"When you see what she has to do, it really hits home. It's like 'f*** me, I don't think I could do that.' Vanessa is just like 'this is what I'm about, this is it, I'm ready. All the same, it's a big worry. It's no joke, all of this."
Quinn is unsure whether Vanessa will have to stay away from him and their children while she helps the Covid-19 battle, with many NHS staff across the country self-isolating to minimise the risk of spreading the virus.
"We're going to look back at this as a crucial time in history," the former Republic of Ireland international added.
"For me, the recognition that society is giving doctors and nurses is what they deserve. Nurses and doctors and schoolteachers, because everyone's kids are at home and we realise it's so hard. For me, after all this is said and done, nurses should be on Premier League wages and schoolteachers should be on movie star wages.
"I just hope we realise the health service and schools need to be properly looked after and supported."