As featured on NewsNow: Football news

Man Utd legend Neville expects more people to follow Kante, Deeney

Manchester United legend Gary Neville thinks more players will drop out of the Premier League season.

Chelsea star N'Golo Kante has withdrawn from training indefinitely over COVID-19 fears. A number of Watford players, including skipper Troy Deeney, have also decided to stay at home.

With the league planning to resume in a few weeks, Neville thinks more players will withdraw.

"I think the clubs will unanimously vote to restart the season in the next few weeks," Neville told Sky Sports. "I think there will be a few more players who drop out. I don't think it helps that the Premier League are relying on government advice and we are all watching what's going on with the government at this moment in time.

"The Watford situation seems to have the most focus at this moment but Kante missing for Chelsea is an absolutely huge blow for them from a football point of view, but you completely understand it from a personal point of view.

"That situation seems to have been accepted more than the Watford situation because there is this doubt, this lingering doubt, that the clubs at the bottom are trying to exploit the situation."

Neville added: "Everyone's saying it, the bottom six will be thinking, what's the upside for us? They really will. They'd much prefer null and void but that doesn't seem the scenario right now.

"Every single scenario has to get played out. They have to manage everything because you don't know [what might happen]. If a load of players go down with coronavirus from a couple of teams, you have to then play out that situation - what if they can't fulfil the fixtures?

"At least they're doing it and fingers crossed, we can get football back on the menu very soon.

"I think relegation will happen and points-per-game will come into play if clubs for any reason can't compete the season."

Video of the day:

About the author

Freddie Taylor

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free