Report – West Brom issue players with training ground update
West Brom have told their playing staff to be ready for a return to training next week, according to the Express and Star.
Initial guidelines laid out by EFL chairman Rick Parry last month recommenced to clubs that they do not reconvene their squads until at least May 16th.
But with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to announce his first phase of plans to ease the Coronavirus lockdown during a speech on Sunday, it is understood that the Baggies have decided to take their lead from him rather than the governing body.
That means that players are expected to return to training earlier than initially expected.
In anticipation of the move, Albion are understood to have asked Ahmed Hegazi, Kamil Grosicki, and Ali Al-Habsi to fly back to the UK in the coming days.
The trio have each been undergoing training programmes given to them by the club in Egypt, Poland and Oman respectively.
The report also suggests that manager Slaven Bilic has indicated that he believes it will take just three weeks for him to whip his players back into peak physical condition for any future resumption of action.
This really does feel like a step in the right direction.
At this stage, with promotion in touching distance, it does feel as if the best, most preferable solution would be for us to play our remaining nine matches behind closed doors and earn a return to the top flight properly.
Rick Parry has previously stated that he believes three teams will be promoted regardless of how the season is wrapped up, but in these hugely uncertain times, the most assurance we can ask for is for our fate to be in our own hands.
By taking the decision to bring the players back to the training ground, Bilic is ensuring that we will be in the best shape possible to attack this home straight as best we can.
Hopefully, we can finally get this job over the line.
In other West Brom news, Sky Sports pundit will be ‘very surprised’ if PL club don’t swoop for Baggies ace this summer.