Sterling warns the restart will lead to injuries

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 star Sterling (below) 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 neuro-muscular 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 said: ‘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 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.’