Return of Premier League will lift the nation’s spirits, believes Blades defender

SHEFFIELD UNITED full-back Enda Stevens has stressed that football has an important part to play in lifting the spirits of the nation when it finally returns.

The Premier League’s Project Restart is working towards the top flight campaign resuming behind closed doors in June.

But a start date of June 12 is reportedly at risk after managers and player representatives expressed doubts about the viability of the planned resumption date at a video conference call.

Concerns over player fitness levels were cited as the major factor in the questioning of that particular date, although the overall tone of the meeting with Premier League medical advisor Mark Gillett was said to be positive.

A collective desire for football to return to action when it is deemed as safe to do were expressed by all parties, with TV rights holders Sky Sports and BT Sport also working towards a resumption next month.

Stevens said: “It will give a lot of people a boost.

“It is an entertainment business for people sitting at home and whatever way they can do it, it will probably keep people locked down and away from socialising outside. It is something which can really boost the communities and the cities at this bad time.

“Financially, of course, it is big business and clubs are losing money every week and need to build that back up and we need that normality sense back if we can.”

Meanwhile, Stevens’s teammate and fellow Republic of Ireland international John Egan says that Blades players have no fears about football returning to action in the summer and have full confidence in the health and safety protocols put in place by the Premier League.

The centre-half, back in socially-distanced training with his Blades colleagues, said: “We want to be back playing games. It is our bread and butter and our job.

“Obviously, it is got to be safe to do that, but the Premier League will have specialists in every area to get the best advice they can.

“Once they have a plan and it is the safest way to do, we have just got to trust them.

“The general consensus is that we are ready to finish the league and we have a team who have trained really well while this has gone on and have the hunger to go back (playing) when it is safe to do so.”