Gerhard Struber faces travel hurdles on return to Barnsley

Well before that, the Barnsley head coach faces a more immediate challenge – getting the green light to return to his workplace in this country.

Struber is back home in his native Austria and awaiting for the time when travel restrictions are lifted to enable him to head back to Oakwell.

Not that it is straightforward, with the UK government set to introduce a 14-day quarantine on people returning from overseas – with Struber, his assistant Max Senft and several Reds players among that number.

Struber, who is with his family at their home near Salzburg, said: “Everyone knows that it is necessary and we hope when we come back that there is a clear concept (plan) from the government.

“Maybe the quarantine can be a little smaller and I am waiting for the concept and the travel plan and my players are waiting for that. We will do what the government needs from us.

“This is the challenge. Many airlines are sleeping right now.

“Many players in Europe and for everyone, it is a big challenge to come back to Barnsley.

“We need a good clear plan of when we do start the training and then we can start the process with the travel process.”

Given the situation at Barnsley, Struber believes that the prospect of a return to training by May 16 – as directed by the EFL to its members – is likely to be unrealistic.

The former Wolfsberger AC chief added: “We hope we can start, but when I read the media reports from England with the injections and people who have died, I don’t know if it is realistic in the middle of May.

“Maybe we start later.”

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