Watford striker Troy Deeney has revealed that he has informed his club that he will not be returning to training as he fears doing so could put his young son at risk.
The Premier League confirmed on Monday that teams would be free to return to 'small-group training' on Tuesday, in the hope of being ready to return to full-contact action midway through June.
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 18, 2020
The current plans will see players train in groups of no more than five, with social distancing still in place, but Deeney told the Talk The Talk YouTube Show that he is not prepared to risk infecting his five-month old son.
"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going," he revealed. "It only takes one to get infected. I don't want to bring that home - my son is five months and he's had breathing difficulties.
"I don't want to put him in more danger. You've got to drive back in the same dirty kit. If I'm putting my clothing in with my son's or my missus' it's more likely to be in the house.
"I've lost my Dad, my Gran, my Grandad. I've more or less everyone that I care about. So that, to me, is more important than a few quid in my back pocket."
Deeney has been very outspoken about the potential dangers of returning to action before the coronavirus pandemic is over. Not only is he concerned by the virus in general, but the Englishman also highlighted the lack of precautionary measures for Black, Asian and mixed race people, who are proven to be more susceptible to the virus.
❌ No tackling
— 90min (@90min_Football) May 18, 2020
❌ No contact
Socially distanced training, with players in groups of five maintaining a two-metre gap between one another.
"Within the meeting I asked very simple questions," he began. "For Black, Asian and mixed ethnicities they are four times more likely to get the illness and twice as likely to have long-lasting illness.
"Is there any additional screening? Heart stuff to see if anyone has a problem? I just said 'If you don't know the information, why would I put myself at risk?'."
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Source: 90min
