Hot off the press: All premier league players have just been instructed to be on standby for a recall to full training by the end of May and have been directed to scale back their personal schedules.
Premier League clubs have already outlined the next steps to be taken towards football’s return in emails to their squads, as seen by Sportsmail, with players being instructed to switch their current training schedules to an ‘off-season’ regime until May 4.
Clubs have been providing players in recent weeks with home-based training plans due to the stringent nationwide lockdown regulations, but clubs are sending their squads new workouts and schedules which are less intense, with a view to maintaining a ‘base level of fitness’.
Players will be provided with new training plans aimed at increasing their fitness levels from May 5 onwards, which would be effectively the start of a traditional pre-season.
One club is already even taken the initiative to advise their players to have the expectation to resume group training by the end of May, which is great for boosting morale.
The outlook seems to be optimistic as Sportsmail revealed last week that players were being told to gear up for a mid-May return to full training in anticipation of a hopeful mid-June resumption of the season.
Players, even foreigners included, have also been told not to leave the country during the current ‘off season’ period. Those who do urgently need to go abroad require special permission from their clubs but have to ensure they are able to return within 48 hours should plans change.
It is indeed good for the spirit that optimism is lifting its head once again into the blue skies. The gloom will not persist forever.
Soon, very soon, the uplifting roars of the stadiums all over the nation will rise again in thunderous acclaim to celebrate the new seasons of liberty.