INJURY RISK!

Sterling warns proposed return date is too soon ++ City star insists players need four weeks build-up ++ Top physio fears late tackles, strains and niggles

RAHEEM STERLING has cast doubt on Project Restart by insisting that Premier League footballers need at least a month of training before they can play again.

The Manchester City forward’s concerns have been supported by leading physio Gary Lewin, who says there is a ‘high risk’ players will pick up injuries if they are rushed back.

The 20 top-flight clubs will vote today on a return to group training, in the hope players can go back to work tomorrow.

The Premier League would then try to restart the season on June 12, although a delay until June 19 looks increasingly likely.

England ace Sterling believes the Premier League’s timescale is unreasonable. ‘They are saying games started by June 12,’ he said yesterday.

‘You can’t come back in with one and a half or two weeks (of training). You’d need a full four to five weeks, especially if you’re going to go back into competition.

‘You’re not playing friendlies, you’re playing to win. It’s going to count for something. You do need to do that preparation, definitely, you can’t just go straight in. I know the clubs are doing their best to find the best resolution for this. But we’ve had a few meetings cancelled, even on Zoom, to talk about the restart.’

Ex-Arsenal and England physio Lewin agrees with Sterling and feels the restart date should be pushed back to June 26.

Lewin, who spent 22 years at Arsenal and went to nine tournaments with England, told

Sportsmail: ‘The time they’ll have in full-contact training before the first game is very limited.

‘It could be just two weeks. It’s like a boxer being asked to get really fit, but not punch anyone, then go into a ring and fight. There

will definitely be a high risk of injury — the players are not being exposed to normal levels of mental, physical and neuromuscular work. ‘If you’re slightly late for a tackle, then the more significant injuries occur. ‘That’s when you get ligament ruptures, serious knee and ankle joint injuries. You hear players talking about needing three to four games to get back as they’re a bit rusty. That’s the neuro-muscular side. ‘They are talking about June 19, but I’d go for a week later.’ When the game does return, managers are likely to be able to use five substitutes, up from the usual three. Lewin added: ‘The intensity will be there for an hour and then drop, so if five substitutions are allowed, it could become like rugby, where the subs are as important as the starting line-up.’ Sterling (right) added: ‘We’ve had our weekly training programmes sent to us. ‘I’ve been trying to keep up with the plan, but it’s not the same intensity.’ Meanwhile, manager Frank Lampard is determined to convince Chelsea’s out-of-contract players to sign short-term extensions in order to see out the delayed Premier League season at Stamford Bridge. Willian and Olivier Giroud are among the big-name stars whose existing deals expire on June 30, but new rules introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic will allow them to strike mutual deals to complete the campaign.