When Sheffield United return to Premier League action, this rule MUST be introduced

Okay, it might be a stupid idea.
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No more stupid than some of those being put forward by football’s supposedly sharpest brains as they try to steer the game through the chaos caused by coronavirus. But it does add another layer of complexity to what is already a mind-numbingly complex process, with four governing bodies attempting to squeeze the schedules of seven competitions into a one-and-a-half month window.

It’s possible. If we can put a man on the moon, then there’s no reason why a solution can’t be found to the problem of completing the Premier League, the Championship, Leagues One and Two, the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League before, let’s say, September so as not to cause too much disruption to next season’s calendar which is bookended by Euro 2020. Or is it now Euro 2021? Even so, you suspect something will still have to give.

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What it shouldn’t be, however, is the sporting integrity of those respective campaigns. Otherwise, there’s no point in trying to salvage this term’s fixture calendars. We might as well just abandon them altogether and start afresh.

Which is why I’m proposing those players sidelined by injury or illness before the global pandemic forced matches to be postponed en bloc are not immediately available for selection, assuming they have recovered, when games eventually resume. Instead, a ruling should be introduced prohibiting them from taking part in matches they would otherwise have missed.

Here’s an example of what I mean. When Sheffield United last took to the pitch at the beginning of last month, wing-back Enda Stevens limped-out of their win over Norwich City after suffering a recurrence of the calf muscle problem he had sustained against Brighton and Hove Albion a couple of weeks earlier. But Chris Wilder’s own admission, this meant he was likely to sit out their forthcoming meetings with Newcastle and Arsenal in the cup. So, when these two contests do take place, Stevens should be forced to sit them out. The same goes for Martin Dubravka, who Steve Bruce had acknowledged would be unavailable when United were initially expecting to travel to the North-East. The Slovak must, for the sake of probity, be ruled ineligible for selection when Wilder’s squad eventually step-out at St James’ Park.

Given the fact it could be another two months before the PL cranks back into gear - and that spectators are unlikely to be granted entry into its stadia - a degree of inequity is inevitable if we are to fulfil this term’s schedule.

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For instance, the momentum United had built up before the country went into lockdown will have been lost. They will not be able to enjoy the backing of a crowd which, by Wilder’s own admission, has been a major factor behind their march through the divisions in recent years.

Sheffield United defender Enda Stevens (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Bramall Lane (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Sheffield United defender Enda Stevens (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Bramall Lane (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Sheffield United defender Enda Stevens (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Bramall Lane (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

But it would be an even greater injustice if, let’s say, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were able to feature for Tottenham Hotspur when Jose Mourinho’s men make the journey to South Yorkshire, given they would have missed the original date because of health issues. Spurs are a much more formidable proposition with those two at their disposal than without and so United, if Kane and Heung-min are allowed to face them later this summer, would be disadvantaged through no fault of their own. Mourinho’s charges, however, could be seen to have profited from the pandemic.

Given that the players’ disciplinary records are not expected to be wiped clean - and any suspensions yet to be completed must also correlate to the schedule the PL published last year - it would be wrong if the same did not apply to injuries.

A group of independent medical experts could be assigned the task of deciding when those receiving treatment before the last round of matches were likely to return, with their recommendations then passed on to officials at the PL’s Brunel Building HQ and their counterparts at the FA, the EFL and UEFA, who would in turn decide who is and who isn’t able to be picked for certain contests.

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That would help to make an already unfair situation a little fairer. And it’s a process which shouldn’t be too difficult to implement.

Sheffield United and other Premier League clubs should be forced to select only those players who were available for the original fixture date when matches eventually take place following the coronavirus crisis: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty ImagesSheffield United and other Premier League clubs should be forced to select only those players who were available for the original fixture date when matches eventually take place following the coronavirus crisis: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images
Sheffield United and other Premier League clubs should be forced to select only those players who were available for the original fixture date when matches eventually take place following the coronavirus crisis: LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images

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