Cobblers set to return to training - but will take precautions to minimise risk

It's been an odd few days for footballers up and down the country but, all being well, Cobblers players will return to some kind of normality next week when they resume training at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Since last Friday, when EFL confirmed all fixtures would be postponed for three weeks, Town's squad have stayed at home where they've worked on individual fitness programmes.

The suspension period for all leagues in England was extended by a further three weeks earlier today, Thursday, but players will need to stay somewhere near tip-top condition assuming the season resumes at some point over the next couple of months.

Therefore, manager Keith Curle has called his squad back into training next week, though precautions will be taken. They include a medical check with the doctor upon arrival, players bringing in their own towels and the use of two changing rooms to encourage social distancing.

"The plan is to be back in training on the Tuesday," confirmed Curle.

"If we take certain precautions, we're still able to pick up training but of course there will be safeguards that we will try and take with regards to health and hygiene of the players.

"That means we'll be able to come together and train because we'll want to hit the ground running when we do resume.

"We're monitoring what the players have been doing, mentally and physically, to make sure they're in a good space and we also have to make sure that any concerns they have about their friends or family isn't impacting them.

"The difficulty is being apart from each other when you're in a team sport but they've got a group chat and as you can imagine, the banter is lively! Ultimately, though, we want to work together."

Curle has been in regular conversation with his players over the past week to ensure they're doing the necessary amount of fitness work.

He added: "We asked the players to contact us daily and tell us what they've been doing regarding their fitness levels because it gives us an opportunity to have dialogue.

"It also allows us to look through their workloads and some of them have had to reduce their work slightly.

"We've had to advise them as well because going out for a run on the road, for example, is not something we encourage as it can cause underlying problems when they return to the grass.

"We'll try to get players on the grass and do training modules that we're able to record next week but we're fit lads and it's just making sure they're out getting the fresh air and doing enough.

"Hopefully, next week we can start picking back up the football element of it."

Asked what he's made of the impact of COVID-19 and how the country have responded to it, Curle said: "I've got to be honest and a criticism that I have is about the language being used by some media outlets because it's causing a lot of panic.

"People are going out and stockpiling and clearing out the shelves and in my opinion I don't think there's a need for that.

"But I think that's being brought on by some of the language being used and I'm very mindful of that so I try and turn the news off and dilute the information while also taking onboard the seriousness of it as well."