Players sweat over test results as two more self-isolate at Watford

Premier League players will receive their second round of Covid-19 results today from testing over the past two days, with clubs hopeful that a low number of positive diagnoses will reassure squads that the new health protocols are working.

The tests were undertaken on Thursday and yesterday across the clubs’ 20 training grounds as part of the first week of non-contact, socially-distanced training that began on Tuesday under the Government’s “step one” protocols for elite sport. The first round of tests, which were undertaken at the end of last week, returned six positive results across 748 players and staff.

The Premier League will hope that another low number will pave the way for the second part of the process, the

“step two” protocols which are being drawn up with the Government. There will be discussions with clubs on Wednesday about how they move on to the next phase, when contact and tackling will be possible for the first time since the lockdown.

Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, told the BBC that he would feel safe to return were he a player. “I think I would,” he said. “I have listened to the arguments, been in the meetings and listened to the medical advisers. I would be comfortable to do so.”

He added that the ultimate decision would still rest with the players as to whether they played. Whatever verdict they came to should be respected. “It’s their prerogative,” he said.

Christian Kabasele, the Watford defender, has said that the proposed June 12 start to the season was “impossible” – leaving too little time for players to reach match fitness.

He said: “There has been talk about

June 12, but I think it is impossible because it would be less than three weeks’ training after a long period of not doing anything, so it is a risk for us. The most obvious choice for me is the end of June. You have at least four weeks to train with the team if it is possible. We will see, at the moment it is a big question mark.”

Watford manager Nigel Pearson revealed last night that two more of his squad are in self-isolation after members of their families tested positive for coronavirus. Three people at the club – Adrian Mariappa and two staff – had already returned a positive result in the Premier League’s first round of testing and were forced into isolation.

Meanwhile, concerns over an increased coronavirus mortality risk to players from black and other ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds will be raised with Government officials at a meeting on Friday by Bobby Barnes, the deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association.