NEWCASTLE boss Steve Bruce believe the Premier League season shouldn’t restart until the end of June at the earliest.
The first of the three phases would be a universal return to training, with clubs to decide on this on Monday.
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Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is concerned that the season could be restarting too earlyCredit: PA:Press Association
But Bruce, speaking to The Telegraph, has revealed there is “widespread opposition” to Project Restart getting off on June 12.
He believes players need longer to get back up to fitness after eight weeks off due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to the newspaper, the 59-year-old said: “We’ve listened to what has been said and, with the precautions taken, we will get back to work and start phase one.
“Can we get to that stage where we can have all the players on the pitch together? We don’t know yet.
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“Phase one will be mainly fitness work, four or five players on a pitch. Let’s see how we get on.
“You have to remember that they have had eight weeks off and that is probably the longest break some of these players have had in their careers.
“If we were doing pre-season, we would have six weeks and probably have six friendly games to get them ready for the first league match.
“So, we need a good stretch of time here to get them ready. Certainly once we get into stage two, that is vitally important.
“We need enough preparation time to get these players into shape or they are just going to fall down like a pack of cards.
“Most of the managers have the same concerns. We would need at least six weeks. I don’t see how we can play games until the back end of June.”
ROSE WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY
The German Bundesliga restarted their season at the weekend behind closed doors.
But many fans were left confused with how social distancing measures played out.
Danny Rose, who is part of Bruce’s squad on loan from Tottenham, has been outspoken in his views that the Premier League season is being rushed back.
He has called on the sport not to return until “numbers [of coronavirus cases] have dropped massively” and called rushing it back “b*****s”.
Bruce confirmed he has spoken with Rose, and that the defender is “coming back” but admits he would “understand” if any of his players refused to play.
Watford striker Troy Deeney is another Premier League star to voice his conerns, and has said he would rather “go broke” than risk his family’s health.
It has led to rumours that the call on whether the season can be completed may now not even be made until June.
Newcastle’s loan star Danny Rose has voiced his serious concerns over football returningCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Danny Rose slams ‘f—ing joke’ plans to bring Premier League back and says ‘lives are at risk’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
