‘Not going to be easy’ – Shearer delivers advice to Leeds players nine games away from promotion
Alan Shearer has said that it’s not going to be easy for the Leeds United players to get their rest and fitness right before tackling the final nine games of the season.
He warned that it would be “non-stop” when games resume and predicted that the Leeds players would only have about three weeks to get back to match fitness when training resumes, likely in mid-May.
Writing in his column in the Sun, Shearer said, “It’s not going to be easy for footballers, who may be stood down for the next four or five weeks until mid-May.
“Having been keeping in shape as best they can while there is all this uncertainty, now is the time to take a rest. Because when they do return, it is going to be non-stop.
“Once training again, I imagine they will have around three weeks to get up to speed before trying to finish off the last nine games.
“And while it looks doubtful that next season will start on time, there will be another quick turnaround to get that started too.
“For the players now it’s going to be very different, with maybe just three weeks to prepare for playing those last games in a very short period.
“It’s not an easy time, but having never faced a situation like this everyone is in the same boat.”
Leeds – survival of the fittest
Leeds are nine games away from the Premier League but Shearer is right – it’s not going to be easy getting back to full match fitness.
Shearer said that everyone is in the same boat but we’re hoping that Leeds are fitter than their rivals on their return.
They were among the fittest teams in the Championship before lockdown – if not the fittest – and have been closely monitored while training at home.
Some players have been using Thorp Arch, while respecting social distancing, using the running track to keep fitness levels up.
Striker Jean-Kevin Augustin has been getting one-to-one treatment and already looks way leaner than he was when he arrived at Elland Road.
if May 16 is the return-to-training date then we imagine the Leeds players will have a break now without taking their feet off the pedal too much.
On their return, we fully expect them to pick up where they left off, although playing behind closed doors will add another unknown into the equation.
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