Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has said the club will resume training on May 18.
Players from other Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Tottenham, have already returned to their training facilities under strict conditions, while the majority of top-flight teams remain in self-isolation.
United players, who were based abroad during the coronavirus outbreak, have been told to return to the UK and Pereira told Globo Esporte that plans are in place to restart training at Carrington later this month.
“We had a meeting and were told that if everything is going well, we’ll be back in training on May 18 in groups of six.
“If that goes well, a week or two later, we’ll be able to train as a group.
“There will be six players training initially and there won’t be much contact between us.
“We’ll still be separated and training in different parts of the pitch.
“Those precautions have to be followed,” he said.
Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’
The Premier League is targeting a return to training in small groups from May 18.
‘Project Restart’ plans will be discussed at the league’s next shareholders meeting on Monday May 11, a day after the UK government gives an update on lockdown restrictions.
Meanwhile, doctors from all 20 Premier League clubs have told football chiefs the proposed season restart is not safe in a 100-point letter.
Medics put together a long letter to Premier League medical advisor Mark Gillett and director of football Richard Garlick listing 100 questions and potential problems.
According to The Athletic, the letter – split into ten different sections – revealed multiple COVID-19 concerns they believe have not yet been addressed.
The concerns, according to the report include: “Approving guidelines that still carry risk of death; Liability, insurance and testing for players, staff and their families; Possible transmission via sweat and goalkeeper gloves; Suspicions that some clubs are already ignoring guidelines; Increased risk for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups as well as ability of emergency services to attend training ground incidents.”
Bundesliga resumes
The Bundesliga will restart on May 15 after the German government gave the green light on a return to action.
The Bundesliga is the first of any of Europe’s major leagues to be given clearance to resume playing since the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
Two of Germany’s neighbours, the Netherlands and France, have ended their seasons.
And Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says the resumption of the Bundesliga season will make weekends “easier for everyone” in Germany during the coronavirus pandemic.
Rummenigge believes the decision is an important step and one which can have a positive impact on society.
