Which Yorkshire footballers are desperate for chance to return and make their point

Football League chairman Rick Parry said on Tuesday his organisation would have to show its hand “within days”.

Vested interests will be at play, as well as legitimate safety concerns. Some clubs will be glad to see the back of 2019-20, whereas others have plenty to play for. Even within squads, motivations will vary.

Here are some individuals with good cause to hope the season can safely get up and running again.

Panagiotis Retsos

The centre-back joined Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season but the form of his new team-mates has limited him to an FA Cup appearance in midfield at Reading.

The good news for the Greek and Richairo Zivkovic, loaned on the same January deadline day, is manager Chris Wilder said before the lockdown looked a serious prospect he would be prepared to re-sign them on the basis of training-ground work alone.

Gerhard Struber

Barnsley’s Austrian coach spoke recently about wanting to manage in the Premier League so relegation – or bottom place in a voided campaign – is not something he will want on his CV from a first season in England.

Struber’s second campaign in senior management started well, some impressive Europa League work by Wolfsburger earning his move to Oakwell, and the financial restraints at Barnsley make it difficult for anyone to keep them in the Championship but for his pride as much as anything, he will want the chance to at least put up a fight.

Jean-Kevin Augustin

If the Frenchman can contribute a few goals to the Leeds United side which wins promotion back to the Premier League they left 16 years ago he will never have to buy a pint in the city, as well as being guaranteed the chance to be part of a squad in the best league in the world.

Having only played 48 minutes for the Whites, Augustin is said to have worked hard on his fitness in lockdown to meet Marcelo Bielsa’s exacting demands.

Chris Willock

The winger had to move to Portugal for regular senior football, with Benfica, and his return to England went badly, failing to get a kick for West Bromwich Albion in the first half of the season.

A January loan to Huddersfield Town went much better, striking up a great rapport with Emile Smith Rowe, Karlan Grant and Lewis O’Brien after being made to wait for his chance. Having played in two of the Terriers’ best performances this season, at home to Bristol City and Charlton Athletic, Willock would have been looking forward to a run of games.

Freddie Ladapo

Rotherham United’s record signing has put himself within three of his first 20-goal season as a professional footballer.

Having scored in five of his last seven games, the break came at a particularly bad time for him and his promotion-chasing colleagues.

Josh Windass

Windass’s dad, former Hull City, Bradford City, Sheffield United and Middlesbrough forward Dean, does not believe the attacking midfielder has a future at parent club Wigan Athletic, and Josh would like his Hillsborough loan to be made permanent.

Two goals in four appearances were a decent start in his application to be part of the Owls’ summer rebuild, but they may feel they need more evidence before committing.

Jacob Ramsey

On loan from Aston Villa, Ramsey seemed to be loving the opportunity of senior football as much as League One Doncaster Rovers were enjoying having him. Two goals on his February debut and one in his most recent match showed the 18-year-old’s talent.

Unlike Sheffield United’s Dean Henderson – on loan from the Blades’ rivals for a European place, Manchester United – there seems little doubt Ramsey will be allowed to stay if the third-tier season goes into extra-time but next term? It is hard to know if Villa will want him to be a bit-part of their squad, particularly if they are relegated to the Championship.

Hope Akpan, Jermaine Anderson, Danny Devine, Clayton Donaldson, Jordan Gibson, Dam Henley, Zeli Ismail, Shay McCartan, Kelvin Mellor, Richard O’Donnell, Jake Reeves, Joe Riley and Chris Taylor

All 10 Yorkshire clubs have players out of contract this summer who will wonder what the future holds. Whereas the likes of Sheffield United’s Ravel Morrison (on loan at Middlesbrough) should get another gig on the back of their talent and should anyway have enough money to tide them over if not, the 13 Bradford City players whose contracts are up may not have the same luxury.

With 1,400 players due to be out of contract whenever the season ends, Bradford’s could do with getting off furlough and into the shop window as soon as possible.

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