Extraordinary photos emerge of former Sheffield Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal back at work in Portugal

The Portuguese national, whose Rio Ave side have been widely praised for their fifth-place position in the table, has been heavily linked with the vacant manager’s role at Brazilian giants Vasco de Gama in recent weeks.

And returning to the training ground with a number of his players, Carvalhal wore both a protective mask and a plastic face shield in his attempt to safeguard himself against the disease.

The links to Vasco were ramped up by presidential candidate Leven Siano, who confirmed the club had been in contact with Carvalhal, whose contract is up at the end of the current season.

“We are in conversations with Brazilians and foreigners, including the Portuguese Carlos Carvalhal.

“It is quite possible that we have a European coach. In addition to nutrition, psychology or sports medicine, philosophy in football is what really makes the difference in getting a team to play with greater intensity.”

In a recent social media question-and-answer session Carvalhal hinted that he would like one day to make a Hillsborough return after his December 2016 departure having earlier revealed he had ambitions of returning the a role in England ahead of next season.

He was careful to throw his support behind current Owls boss Garry Monk, however, who he described as a ‘very good manager’.

“I hope that next season we can go back to England again because that is what really I wish,” he went on to say.