Champions weigh up training camp on the continent

CELTIC boss Neil Lennon has revealed that the club is investigating the possibility of flying his players abroad for a pre-season training camp.

The Premiership champions are scheduled to return to training at Lennoxtown on Thursday on a restricted basis that will see the players work out in small groups.

As the planned August restart date draws closer, Lennon hopes restrictions are lifted to allow full contact training but admits the club are exploring alternative options further afield.

He said: ‘Initially, we will be training in small groups, which is fine, just basically bedding the players in again.

‘Then we may look to go away to a training camp. We are pursuing a couple of avenues that may be a possibility.

‘That could involve travelling abroad, that’s something we are looking at, no question.

‘That would maybe allow us into training in bigger groups, which is obviously very important in your preparation for the new season.

‘All those processes and think clouds are in place at the minute. We do feel confident that if there is the possibility of going to a camp we will.’

As things stand, the plan looks problematic. Although the club routinely charters its own aircraft for European matches, it would still need to circumvent new government rules surrounding quarantine on its return.

Effective from tomorrow, all passengers flying into the UK will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, a practice that would nullify any benefit derived from a training camp.

Celtic have invested significantly in a coronavirus testing facility and the club’s medical and sports science staff are deep into preparing both the training ground and stadium for the return of football.

The UK Government has already lifted restrictions for English Premier League clubs, who returned to full contact training last week ahead of their June 17 restart.

There has been some resistance from players such as Watford captain Troy Deeney, who has voiced his concern at the heightened risk of Covid-19 to black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

Lennon intends to sit down with his players to discuss any concerns over their return to the workplace.

‘It does seem to be that BAME people are a little bit more vulnerable,’ he added.

‘We have protocols in place and we’re trying to reassure all the players on the safety at the training ground and the environment.

‘We have plans in place over the weekend for testing and all the medical processes we need to go through in terms of the hygiene around the training ground.

‘The players are going to have to be really disciplined over the next few weeks and that will include how they go about life away from the training ground.

‘We’ll have the medical team in position on Monday to talk to the players individually and do rigorous testing on them, not just for coronavirus but all other aspects of their physical health and well-being.’