Inside Middlewood Road: The steps Sheffield Wednesday are taking to make the most of coronavirus break

As the country prepares to go into a likely lockdown scenario there is much doubt as to when Wednesday’s Championship campaign will resume, with the current resumption date of April 4 unlikely.

But Monk’s message to the players has been to plough ahead in preparation for a trip to Swansea City that weekend.

The Star understands that no Wednesday player or staff member has reported any coronavirus symptoms and that a full squad is going about its business.

But caution is being taken in that the training ground is operating with required staff only, with club employees usually based at Hillsborough told to stay away and no visitors allowed on-site.

Monk is understood to be determined to use this time with his players as a turning point in the campaign and having so far been steadfast in keeping his methods consistent throughout their poor start to 2020, admitted he has changed certain aspects of his approach have changed after their 5-0 defeat at Brentford.

“The principles are the same,” he said. “Maybe a tweak here and there. I don't want to give things away; I don't think any manager would do that but the fundamentals are the same.

“We have concentrated on that and tried to make it a little more clearer. We have tried to do that all the way through but we have probably overemphasised those points, even more, to show them visually in the meeting rooms and on the training pitches to give them that real clarity and understanding of what gets a performance.

“Everyone already knows their roles and the fundamentals but maybe it is a case of overemphasising those points and going through them.

“It is very simple stuff and an old method to do but maybe that is what is needed to give them that confidence and a reminder of what they can do if they are delivered at their highest levels.”