What last night’s Boris Johnson speech could mean for Sheffield Wednesday

Industries such as construction, hospitality and manufacturing were namechecked by Johnson in the Government’s plan forward, but along with many lines of work there remain as many questions as answers when it comes to football, when Sheffield Wednesday might return to action and in what that return might look like.

Some clarity is expected in the coming days as the Premier League and EFL meet to discuss their own blueprint for a safe return. Here’s what we understand so far about what Johnson’s speech means for Sheffield Wednesday.

Wednesday trio will be quarantined on return to the UK

As The Star confirmed this week, both Julian Börner and Joey Pelupessy are isolating back home in Germany and Holland respectively. It is also understood that Alessio Da Cruz is isolating in mainland Europe, too.

This will cause problems for Wednesday as all three will have to be isolated at home for 14 days, preventing any immediate return to training on their return.

Johnson said: “To prevent re-infection from abroad, I am serving notice that it will soon be the time – with transmission significantly lower – to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.”

Does that open a loophole for the trio to return by other transport means?

Football as we know it still a long way off

Though it seemed unlikely that any Championship football would be played in June following the speech, it seems authorities have set a possible return date for the Premier League at June 12.

A decisive vote on matters is reportedly set to be delivered in the coming days.

The EFL will meet on Wednesday and are expected to follow the Premier League’s lead on their approach, though it has already been widely reported that League One and League Two could be scrapped.

Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister confirmed that there is no chance of matches being attended by Sheffield Wednesday supporters before July 1. The date was given as the very earliest possible date for a return for public gatherings including for the pub trade – though this is entirely dependent on how the next few weeks go.

UEFA has given a May 25 deadline for leagues to inform them of their plans to resume action.

Will Wednesday players be able to go back to training?

It’s not too clear on this one, with only construction and manufacturing outlined as examples of industries that should return to work.

“We said that you should work from home if you can, and only go to work if you must,” Johnson said.

“We now need to stress that anyone who can’t work from home, for instance, those in construction or manufacturing, should be actively encouraged to go to work.”

You’d think that being a footballer comes under the blanket of jobs you can’t do from home, unless it is decided that the individual fitness training they’ve been doing in recent weeks is deemed as work. We expect to hear more in the coming days.

German clubs, who are scheduled to return to matches this weekend, have been training since April 7 and did so at a two-metre distance. Out-on-loan Wednesday defenders Matt Penney and Joost van Aken – at 2.Bundesliga outfits St Pauli and Osnabrück respectively – could feature.

Can the Wednesday squad now step up their training from home?

The Star understands that Owls boss Garry Monk will address players and staff on how he plans to step up their training schedules in the coming days.

As per the Prime Minister’s speech, from Wednesday, we’ll all be able to enjoy as much socially-distanced exercise as we like, with the one-hour limit previously imposed lifted. If a return to training is not sanctioned, this will surely benefit players without the advantage of large gardens and home gym equipment.

“From this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise,” Johnson said.

“You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”