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will go a big way to getting a sense of normality back after what has been such a difficult three months.

“I’ve missed it greatly. It always was and still is a massive part of my life...

“The Premier League is the greatest league in the world and I can’t wait.

“It will be great to just talk about football again. I think many of us are running out of things to talk about.

“It’s the best sport in the world, it’s back with a bang and it will have a huge, positive impact, giving people something to talk and joke about with friends and loved ones.

“It’s a huge step towards our country getting back to normal.”

He joked he would have to fit footie around the new schedule he and wife Judith have developed in lockdown.

Sir Geoff, 78, said: “Like lots of people we’ve had to get new routines

– so I’ll have to squeeze football into it.” He added: “I hope it doesn’t upset the wife too much.”

The matches are being played behind closed doors, and fans are being urged not to go near stadiums.

The remaining Premier League matches will be available to watch across Sky Sports, Pick, BT Sport, BBC and Amazon. Most will be pay-to-view.

BBC and Amazon have four games each and these will be free.

Sky has 64 in total and 25 of them will be free on its Pick channel.

It will be the first time the BBC has televised top-flight matches live during the Premier League era, which began in 1992.

The first game on BBC will be Bournemouth versus Crystal Palace on Saturday. Tonight’s matches – which could feature the likes of Arsenal star Pierreemerick Aubameyang, Man City striker Sergio Aguero, Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish and Sheffield United forward Billy Sharp – are for Sky subscribers. Some think they will become the broadcaster’s mostwatched games ever.

Currently, Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Manchester United in 2012 holds the record – with 4.04 million tuning in. BT

ON RETURN OF FOOTBALL