Not knowing what will happen in the coming days is ‘killing’ Sheffield United players as they plan on getting back to training on Tuesday, according to Enda Stevens.
The Sheffield United and Republic of Ireland defender was speaking on Monday’s OTB AM about how himself and his club intend on moving forward in uncertain times.
The Premier League is due to resume on April 4th, but further postponements are looking likely as the UK begins to attempt to get to grips with the coronavirus outbreak.
While the Blades could face a long wait before their next game, the club are doing everything possible to ensure they are ready for when they are back in action.
“There’s nothing this morning. We had a meeting on Friday obviously when everything was announced then we had the Saturday, Sunday and today off.
“But I think we’re back in training on Tuesday. The academy and all that have been sent home.
“It’s literally just first team players and staff that are allowed in the building. So I think we’re going to try to treat it as normal as we can for the week with training.
“We’ve got to aim for that and we’ve got to plan for that. We don’t want to have a week or two weeks off and then all of a sudden it comes back and we won’t be prepared. The manager wants to keep us prepared.
“We’ve done all the health checks - I think they’ve disinfected the whole building. We’re going to do our best to be isolated at the training grounds as much as we can.
“Over the weekend you saw the news of new cases breaking and it’s a bit surreal. But we still have to plan for the league coming back in April.
“If it does, we want to be prepared. If it doesn’t - we really don’t know what to be thinking,” Stevens said.
The Dubliner is currently struggling with a calf strain and explained that trying to keep fit at home by himself will be challenging in his current situation.
“It’s difficult on me because I’m nursing a bit of an injury at the minute so I kind of need to be in the training grounds getting my rehab and being with the physios.
“That’s where it becomes a bit difficult but I’m sure plenty of lads with the day off will be out going for a run themselves.
“Personally I’d prefer to be in the training ground if that is possible. If it puts us at less risk in any way possible I’d rather be in the training ground,” Stevens commented.
'The not knowing is killing us'
The Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifying play off with Slovakia is also in major doubt, with the game set to take place in Bratislava on March 26th likely to be postponed.
The extra uncertainty of the international game is reason for even further unease for the Ireland defender.
“I haven’t really been doing much thinking about that. Obviously everything’s just come at once. I’m trying to get my head around the Premier League getting cancelled.
“We’re fighting for European places and all that and everything has just been put on hold.
“I think over the next week or two it will really sink in. It’s the not knowing that’s killing us. I think it’s killing everybody.
“We just want to know what’s the best thing to do and how quickly can we get over this,” Stevens said.
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