London, May 27 (IANS): Premier League teams have reportedly given their approval to begin contact training as England move a step forward in resuming its top-tier football league. All football in the country has been suspended since March due to coronavirus pandemic.
As per a report in Sky Sports, Premier League clubs have voted unanimously to approve a return to contact training when safe to do so. The report also stated that clubs will meet again on Thursday to chalk out contingency plans in case season had to be called off.
The players returned to individual and small group training last week as officials continue to target mid-June as a possible return date for resumption of matches.
England' Football Association's (FA) much-talked about 'Project Restart' suffered a setback recently when two footballers tested positive among the 996 players and club staff who were tested for COVID-19 on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had earlier confirmed he was one of the two unnamed players who had contracted the virus.
22-year-old Ramsdale became only the second Premier League player to confirm testing positive for the virus after Watford's Adrian Mariappa.
"It's definitely a shock -- I've not been in contact with anybody and I've now got it," Ramsdale was quoted as saying by The Sun.
"I'm showing no symptoms so the fact that a healthy young person could potentially have it is definitely scary and worrying.
"It's obviously not great that I've got it but it's good that I'm showing no symptoms. It's one of those things that has unfortunately happened and happened to me," he added.