‘It feels great to be back on the big pitch’

pandemic. And while there remains no firm date on when action will resume in the Championship, who are committed to trying to finish the campaign behind closed doors, clubs are now preparing for the resumption.

Protocols set out by the EFL have made for a very different experience at training for players with the squad arriving in their own cars, getting changed and showered at home, having their own socially distanced station and working in small groups of five.

Testing of players and staff was undertaken last week and more testing was done on Monday when players returned. There were no positive tests returned as of yesterday from anyone at Town.

And while training as it looks right now will take a little time to get used to for the squad, Campbell, who returned to his hometown to sign for the Terriers in August on a twoyear deal, is pleased to be back on the pitch.

“It has been a bit strange,” said Campbell, speaking to Examiner

Sport. “But to be back out on a big pitch and hitting a ball around has been great as I’ve only been able to do that in my own back garden for the last six or seven weeks.

“We had training programmes given to us at home and staff could monitor our heart rate and fitness and things like that, but it gets pretty boring when you don’t see your team-mates and it can be tough to get the same kind of motivation.

“We’ve been back doing circuits and even though it is socially distanced, when you see your team-mates doing it, it immediately brings that competitive edge that you just couldn’t get at home.

“We’ve had the balls out and each group has been doing their own work, so the strikers have been doing finishing practice and things like that. We have a chat to each other from a distance but there is no hugging or anything like that. It’s a bit weird and it’s like being back in junior football, you come in your own gear about 10 minutes before training.

“The bikes are cleaned before we get on them and again when we get off them and everything follows the protocol. It’s a bit strange but it’s the new normal for now and we’ll get used to it. It’s better than training on your own at home.” Town boss Danny Cowley stressed that no player would be forced to return to training if they didn’t feel comfortable.

Staff at Huddersfield put protocols in place to try and ensure the safety of those on site at Canalside, something that reassured Campbell, a father of three young children.

When you don’t see your team-mates it can be tough to get the same kind of motivation