Sheffield United players facing fines if they fail home training plan

It is not all smiles, with the Blades told they will be fined if they do not keep their fitness up during the coronavirus outbreak.

“On Friday it was a bit of a blur,” conceded centre-back Basham. “We trained in the morning then we were given a contingency plan we might need to do. It wasn’t, ‘See you later,’ shake your hands, it was just, ‘If this happens, this is what we’re going to do.’

“Then the Government said what they did and we got messages on our group chat saying we’d be getting bikes sent out with programmes and make sure you do the best you can to stick to it. If you don’t there’ll be fines.”

Captain Billy Sharp has led the way in maintaining morale and helping the group.

“I saw Billy in his back garden doing bicycle kicks,” said Basham. “He was also doing some lifts with bottles of Heineken.

“Jags (Phil Jagielka) is great as well, working so hard. He’s thinking he should just be playing on the golf course at the minute.

“Seeing the other side of not being together has been a bit hurtful but we’re doing the best we can. It’s a great group.

“Everyone’s chomping at the bit to get back to training.

“It’s hard for the foreign boys because they’ve not been able to travel home. Billy’s been asking if they need any fresh meat or things like that and putting details of the local butchers and the local people who can help out with shopping and the rest.

“It just proves what team morale we have.”