Josh Harrop more than ready for first steps back with Preston North End

Preston North End midfielder Josh Harrop thinks football can get itself going again with a ‘step-by-step’ return.
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Harrop, 24, was hoping to see his PNE team-mates this weekend for the first time since March when football was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last night, however, the EFL advised clubs not to resume full training until May 25. They had initially targeted May 16 as a return date.

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That in turn is likely to see the proposed date for the resumption of the season pushed back to June 13.

Josh Harrop cannot wait to get back into the old routineJosh Harrop cannot wait to get back into the old routine
Josh Harrop cannot wait to get back into the old routine

The return to training later in the month will be the first step towards the season resuming – there are nine games remaining in the Championship.

After two months of training at home and keeping busy with some DIY, it is not a surprise to learn that Harrop is looking forward to putting the boots on again.

Harrop told the Lancashire Post: “It will be nice to be training again, it will be nice just to see people again.

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“Things will be different and we’ll have to stick to the guidelines but it is the first step back. Things need to be done step by step and steadily we will get back to some sort of normality.

“Even if it is just a few lads on each pitch, that will add intensity to your training.

“You can do all the work you want at home but having people around you naturally brings a competitive edge.

“Up until two months ago I was training every day with the lads. I’ve gone from that to kicking a ball around in the garden on my own.”

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Training will be different for the time being, with an emphasis on observing social distancing.

It is a new way of working but preferable to not training as a squad at all, as has been the case in recent weeks.

“We will have to be more spread out in training,” said former Manchester United player Harrop.

“I presume we will get tested so that they can monitor everyone’s health.

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People are having to live their lives a bit differently 
at the moment and as footballers we have to adapt.”

Should the season resume, it will be behind closed doors, that presenting players with a new environment.

Said Harrop: “Football going behind closed doors will be a whole new scene.

“Not having the fans there will be something big to get used to and it will be strange.

“Hopefully the fans can get to see the games on TV so at least they can watch them.

“As a squad, we will have to stay focused on the games and get used to empty grounds.”