Why Sheffield Wednesday players are well prepared for football's eventual return

Like everyone else, footballers are being asked to stay at home to limit the spread of COVID-19, the pandemic which has forced sport to shut down for almost two weeks, and meant that only key workers are to leave the house.

Owls defender Morgan Fox says the team have been given specific and ‘strict’ training schedules to work on while they are kept away from the club’s Middlewood Road training base.

The backroom staff have also been keeping an eye on progress from afar, with modern technology allowing them to monitor fitness levels.

“We had our last training session last Friday with the team at Middlewood Road,” said Fox

“Now, following the government guidelines we can no longer train, but we have been set a strict programme by our fitness coach Tony Strudwick, and we follow that individually at home.

“The sports science guys can track our progress even from home due to the equipment we have. We need to be ready for when the season restarts.

“There’s runs, bike sessions and upper body sessions. We obviously don’t have access to a gym so it’s using what we’ve got at home and to the park for a run within the guidelines set for everyone.”

Fox had an important message for Wednesday fans as the health service battles to treat those who have been affected by the virus.

He added: “It’s important that we keep our distance and isolate ourselves. It’s vital that everyone stays at home and follows the government guidelines.

“This time is all about helping the NHS and the wider community, so we’ve all got to do our bit to get through this.”

Football has been postponed until April 30 at the earliest and the EFL are due to meet again to make a decision on whether that needs to be extended. The FA decided on Thursday that all non-league football below the National League, will cease and the season declared null and void.