Premier League clubs can use up to five subs

Managers will be able to make up to five substitutions for the remainder of the 2019-2020 Premier League season after clubs agreed to the temporary rule change at a meeting on Thursday.

Fifa proposed the solution last month to “protect player welfare” with a large number of matches packed into a few weeks to clear the backlog caused by the threemonth layoff due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier League clubs agreed to increase the number of substitutes available for selection from the current seven to nine.

“Shareholders also approved for clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019-2020 season.”

To avoid too many stoppages, each team will only have three opportunities to make changes, as well as during the halftime break.

The English Premier League will resume with two matches on June 17 as Manchester City host Arsenal and Sheffield United travel to Aston Villa.

The remaining nine full rounds of league fixtures are expected to be completed in just five weeks.