Keeping up to date with our players, we've spoken with Jacob Brown following the most recent news from the EFL to get his thoughts on the potential return to training.
Reds forward Jacob Brown admits he and his teammates are desperate to get back to work, but with yesterday’s latest EFL update pushing back the earliest date for a resumption of training, also concedes the best decisions must be made in terms of the welfare of all involved.
It’s been nine weeks since Barnsley’s last league fixture and whilst the aim remains to complete the 2019/20 campaign, safety is paramount.
Brown told barnsleyfc.co.uk: “I think originally we were told we’d be back training this coming Saturday (May 16), and obviously now they’ve pushed it back to the 25th. I don’t know if that’s definite, set in stone, but I think everyone’s buzzing to get back to training, but the priority is our health and safety.
“So if it’s safe to come back then that’s the best thing, because I think we are all itching to get back.
“If it’s an extra week or so, then it’s not too bad. But training without the lads and no games, it’s not been easy so I’m looking forward to it personally, so long as it’s safe to do so.”
It’s not only the players themselves who are concerned about working safely whilst the world is still gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, as Jacob explains, the focus falls also on loved ones.
With many issues relating to the Coronavirus still unresolved, there’s also the worry of putting their closest family members at risk.
“There’s so much talk going on in different places about whether the season will return or not,” Brown explained.
“But as far as I know, every player wants to play. There’s not one single player out there who doesn’t want to play football.
“But we have to be safe.
“It’s not just about the footballers, we are expected to go out there and then come back to our families. People might be living with vulnerable family members, so, it’s tough because you don’t want to do anything that could possibly put those people in danger.”
During the lockdown and inevitable downtime associated with it, rumours circle the media as everyone tries to figure out the potential scenarios.
From null and void to points per game, suggestions have been put forward by all with an interest in the beautiful game of how to end the season should a return be ruled out.
Brown feels it would be unfair to seal any club’s fate with a fifth of the campaign still to play but acknowledges these decisions are something the players have no say in.
“It might not seem a lot, just nine games, but that’s 27 points and there’s plenty there to make a difference and turn the season around.
“So if they were to use some kind of points per game system, or anything that relegates us with nine games left, that would be devastating.
“But there are people higher up than us footballers who make these decisions, and it’ll affect those at the top and bottom, should it come to that, so we’d have no choice but to just get on with it.”
