Why Sander Berge hopes he can use coronavirus break to become a better player with Sheffield United

This, though, is a young man wise and mature well beyond his years. Moving away from his native Norway, to Belgium, as a teenager helped. So does the sheer determination to make a success of himself in the Premier League with Sheffield United.

Berge also has an impressive sense of perspective on his current predicament. Sure, he would like to be able to see friends and family, and would likely have had the chance had Norway's game against Serbia gone ahead in Oslo last month.

That game, like all Premier League and EFL action, has been postponed indefinitely, leaving Berge relying on FaceTime and Fortnite to keep in contact with those back home.

He knows, though, he is privileged and that, in his own words, people are far more affected by the lockdown. His time instead is spent on a Wattbike - putting in the hours at home that he hopes will make him an even better player in the long run.

"Training has been pretty tough," he admitted, "but I need it to be able to handle the pace and intensity of the Premier League because I have seen that I have a lot to learn there.

"As a footballer everyone sees what you do on the pitch, but it's about putting hours in all the time, when no-one looks at you. That's where you progress the most.

"I have to make the best of the situation and, as a new player in the Premier League trying to adapt, this is an opportunity to be in better physical shape than when I came over."

Berge completed his first 90 minutes in a United shirt in the FA Cup win at Reading, before suffering what he described as "brutal" cramps.

"I have played 60 minutes here and there but to play for 90 minutes, at 100 per cent power, is difficult," he added.

"Everyone in the Premier League is an athlete now but I need to reach my potential and this [break] can help me do that."

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