High time the managers had a word

ILOVE that Tammy Abraham has come out and said he has been vaccinated. Now let’s hear from those who haven’t. Why aren’t you? What are your concerns? Have the courage of your convictions. Players should not be forced into having the jab. There will always be reasonable exemptions: some medical, some religious.

But the majority of players, in my view, are not being vaccinated because they have not been given the right information or are naive and believe conspiracy theories.

This is where there has to be good leadership and communication. I thought Jurgen Klopp showed that. His view, and Gareth Southgate’s, is that vaccinations are a productive thing to do to get through a pandemic. I agree. I try to put myself back into the world of being a footballer. You all need to be on the same page.

The top doctors tell you that being jabbed makes you less likely to suffer serious symptoms, less likely to be hospitalised, less likely to spread the virus — so less chance of me or a team-mate missing crucial games.

I had Covid recently and having felt the power of it I would not have wanted to face its full force without the vaccine. I spoke recently on the radio and said that I would want my players to have the jab not only to protect the group of players but their families, the public and the NHS. I was inundated with abuse.

I find it bizarre that managers such as Thomas Tuchel don’t know which of his players have been jabbed. I couldn’t envisage Gerard Houllier or Roy Hodgson not doing all they can to give us the right info. Without it, players, their families and the club are at risk.