Clubs edge closer to the big kick-off

Premier League looks set to return on June 17 with Manchester United v Arsenal clash

THE Premier League will restart on June 17, according to reports. Executives from the 20 top-flight clubs gathered for a shareholders’ meeting yesterday, and it was reported that agreement was reached over the remaining rounds of games to be played.

Two rearranged matches - Aston Villa v Sheffield United and Manchester City v Arsenal - will be played first, before the first full round of games on the weekend of June 20 and 21, reports said. The last action in the Premier League was on March 9, before the competition was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic on March 13.

Four individuals connected to three clubs tested positive for coronavirus in the league’s third round of testing, with 1,008 staff from Premier League clubs tested.

Meanwhile, Lee Johnson could have a clearer idea as to when Bristol City will retake the field again, after Charlton Athletic director of football Steve Gallen dropped a hint regarding the restart of the Championship season.

Johnson declared on Monday he was hopeful of playing again in the

“second or third week of June” after the Robins resumed training. With nine matches left to be played by each club, there remains a desire from most Championship sides to complete the season on the pitch.

City have joined league leaders Leeds United and West Brom in being vocal supporters of an on-field conclusion as opposed to curtailment and deciding standings via points per game.

Leeds and West Brom occupy the top two automatic promotion places and below them it’s Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston North End with Bristol City seventh, one point outside the play-offs. And now it seems Charlton are stepping up preparations as they believe the Championship will restart on June 20. The club is so certain of this, Gallen has told The Athletic, that Lee Bowyer’s team have lined up two “pre-season” friendlies, one against a Premier League team.

The Championship announced its latest Covid-19 test figures yesterday with three positives from 1,030, revealed to be two unnamed Fulham players and Blackburn captain Elliott Bennett. Addicks boss Bowyer said three of his squad are off due to concerns surrounding the virus.