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Watford captain Deeney refuses return to training

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AFP London
Last Updated : May 19 2020 | 4:34 PM IST

Watford captain Troy Deeney will not return to training this week over fears he could pass coronavirus on to his five-month-old son.

Deeney has consistently voiced his concerns over the speed with which the Premier League hopes to return to playing matches despite the United Kingdom having the second-highest death toll in the world.

England's top-flight clubs are due to return to training in small, socially distanced groups on Tuesday.

Training will then be stepped up to full contact with the aim of resuming the season by the middle of next month.

"We're due back in this week. I've said I'm not going in. It's nothing to do with financial gain," Deeney said on the Talk The Talk podcast.

"My son is five months and he's had breathing difficulties. I don't want to come home and put him in more danger." All players and staff will be regularly tested, but Deeney highlighted the contradiction of contact sport returning at a time when the public are told to continue following social distancing guidelines.

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The 31-year-old also added he is willing to take a financial hit if not playing results in a reduction in wages.

"While we are being tested and while we are going to be in a very safe environment, it only takes one person in the group. I don't want to be bringing that home," he added.

"I just said the simplest thing. I can't get a haircut until mid-July, but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and jump for a header.

"I don't know how that works. No one could answer the questions, not because they didn't want to, but because they don't know the information.

"I've lost my dad, my gran, my grandad. I've lost more or less everyone that I care about. So that, to me, is more important than a few quid in my back pocket."
"Is there any additional screening? Heart stuff to see if people have got problems? No. Okay, well I feel like that should be addressed."

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First Published: May 19 2020 | 4:34 PM IST

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