Revealed: The steps Sheffield United's coaching staff have taken to ensure players have "no hiding place" during coronavirus break

United's players were informed that the Shirecliffe training complex was closing recently, and each was given a Wattbike with a personalised training programme to follow throughout the enforced break.

United's coaching staff are also monitoring players' heartrates through special trackers, and have also delivered weights to each player to ensure they have all they need to stay in shape.

"There's no hiding place for the lads," said Chris Basham, the defender.

"And we've all had our partners and kids filming the sessions! As you'll have seen on social media, everyone in the football world is trying to stay fit and we're being monitored, and also monitoring things ourselves."

United's game against Basham's hometown club, Newcastle United, was the first to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.

Asked if the absence of football had hit home yet, Basham admitted it hadn't yet.

"No-one in our squad had the virus so we trained until Friday," he said.

"It's just starting to hit home now, when I wake up in the morning, that there's no training, and no football.

"We just have to do our bits at home and when we come back into training again, we'll hopefully have a week or two of kicking the ball again... which everyone can't wait to do."

Basham this afternoon reinforced the 'Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives' message.