TRAINING TO RAMP UP

PREMIER LEAGUE captains are set to give the go-ahead to restart contact training. A week of season-defining talks starts today as captains and managers of the 20 clubs hold separate video conference calls with Premier League officials, with a view to agreeing a move to ‘phase two’ of training which incorporates restricted contact. How the PL can guarantee players’ health with contact was the main issue in the previous captains’ meeting earlier this month. Many footballers believe returning to action gives them a significant risk of catching Covid-19. There has been a particular reluctance from the BAME playing community after the Office for National Statistics released data that black men and women are nearly twice as likely to die from coronavirus as white people. Sportsmail knows of at least seven BAME players who have opted out of training. Watford striker Troy Deeney and Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante are among them. There is hope at Watford that Deeney can be persuaded to return in the coming days. General health risks and the concerns of the BAME players will be aired again at today’s player meeting. While several are reluctant to even continue phase one training, there is a growing acceptance that the season will restart, a feeling that is likely to be reflected in today’s meeting, although it is understood that players at a least six clubs have concerns over Project Restart. The Premier League have been in touch with club doctors to ensure they have all the relevant BAME information should any players request it. Managers will hold a call today, with bosses set to emphasise the start date of June 12 is unrealistic. June 19 and 26 are preferred. Only a high number of positive tests in the next two sets of swabs will stop the move into phase two training.