Oxford United will be able to train in small groups tomorrow after the entire squad and first team staff tested negative for Covid-19.
Testing was carried out on Friday and everyone tested came back with a negative result, clearing the way for the first day of training tomorrow, although as Karl Robinson told us, it won’t be training in the usual way:
“First of all it’s great news that we have all tested negative and that everyone is safe and well. The tests were done in a totally professional manner and the results came back slightly quicker than we expected so now we go to the next phase which is to start reporting back to the training ground.
“The players are no longer furloughed, and I want to thank the Board for backing us on that decision. It was done with the sole intention of giving us the best chance of being fully fit and ready when games begin again, as we believe should happen.
“We are a long way off a full return though. Tomorrow will be done in small groups of five players, all respecting the guidelines and safely distanced from each other and the staff. They will have to wash their own kit, there won’t be any group meetings or any use of the main building, so no meals prepared for them as a group. But it is a start and it will be great to be together because I think everyone has missed the fantastic atmosphere around the Training Ground every day.
“There’s a serious point to be made as well, if I can, which is that although this is good news for us the pandemic still hasn’t gone away. We have told the players that now they need to be more cautious than ever before and to respect all of the safety guidelines. We hope our fans will continue to do that as well.”