Troy got it right, but ‘bubble’ is looking safer now

him and he had every right to make it. I agree 100 per cent.

But, beyond that, the evidence suggests players are safer, because they are all being protected in the bubble. And the regular testing means that if anyone has the virus without knowing, they can get medical assistance and isolate immediately.

Which is safer for their families.

The stats bear that out. The very first round of testing found six people had asymptomatic Covid-19. They didn’t know and so the testing helped their families.

The next round found only two and the third zero. Since then, I think there has been only one more case, out of almost 2,000 people.

Which proves not only that it is working, but also that anyone infected is being isolated quickly enough to ensure there is no spread of infection.

It was always right to come back. If it is safe – and now we know it is – then I believe football has a duty to give something to people.

We are not doctors, we are not frontline workers, but we can provide entertainment and relief during what has been a horrific time.

For me, that is something players can be proud of. They are often criticised for being out of touch with reality, for being millionaires who are totally disconnected from the fans who pay their wages.

Well, this shows they are not. No players complained about doing their job. A few like Deeney had legitimate questions and were right to ask them. But Troy will be back next week with the rest of the players.

I believe they showed their mettle. They stood up and accepted a responsibility.

Again, I’m not saying for a second they are heroes. But if most players had resisted while still claiming their wages, then the public would rightly have been able to point fingers.

Many are also playing after voluntarily accepting wage cuts and more are showing they are in tune with what is going on.

I believe the players supporting the Black Lives Matter movement is important and vital. Many millions around the world admire footballers, so by taking a stand they are helping to make a difference.

And by playing, they will make a difference too. Not an earth shattering difference, but a difference none the less.

It is a little bit of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

SHIELDING FOR A REASON Troy Deeney raised questions that needed to be properly is answered, but he back now I DON’T think football without fans can ever be the same – but I am still happy it is back. Football is its fans. They are the lifeblood of the sport, they make the game what it is. But we have to accept times have changed and, when things change, you move with them. What else are we going to do, wait for a vaccine so stadiums can be full? That could take two or three years, it could be 10. There’d be no football left. So let’s play without fans. At least there will be football. And let’s make the most of it. For me, that means finding a way to get interactive crowd noise on to the TV screenings. Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s not the same, but it’s something. And it works for me. I REALLY don’t want to hear players shouting, managers swearing and the thud of the ball on the TV, so yeah, I’ll take it. I watched German football over the past week and where they allowed the option to have fan noise on TV, it was fine. Not the same, but fine. They cut in tight on the action, so there are few shots of totally empty stands and, with the noise, it works. It is exciting enough for those of us who have missed football and I think, as the technology develops, it can get better. There was an experiment in Denmark a couple of weeks ago at Aarhus, and they had 10,000 fans on a Zoom video link, watching and beaming their reaction to the stadium. That could work here. There will be plenty of moaning and lots of derision about the lack of atmosphere. But football’s back. So accept it and make the most of it because – and I whisper this quietly – with all this talk of a second wave, we just don’t know how long we’ll have football for.

RUNNING ON EMPTY Just cut to the action and don’t focus on seats

DEMANDING Some Reds fans still want more