'Players coming back to perform is not straight-forward' - Doncaster Rovers boss on tempering usual expectations on footballers

Doncaster Rovers boss Darren Moore said the usual expectations on footballers should be tempered whenever the lengthy shutdown of the game is ended.
Darren MooreDarren Moore
Darren Moore

It has been nine weeks since the last dometic matches were played before the sport was halted due to the spread of Covid-19.

Decisions will be taken in the next few days over the fate of certain competitions, including an expected vote to cancel the remainder of the 2019/20 season for League One and League Two clubs, while the Premier League and Championship continue to push for a return.

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Moore believes a return to action will be difficult for players, who have already endured a longer break than the vast majority will have ever experienced in their careers.

“You’ve got to remember if they were to come back in the next week or so, they will have had 70-odd days off,” he said. “That’s more than any pre-season.

“A usual end of season break is about 50-odd days. This is a surreal thing.

“Players coming back to perform is not just a straight-forward thing. You’re going to have to take other things into consideration because they will not have had that length of time off before, such substantial time.”

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Moore himself has spoken of the challenges of finding the correct mindset to deal with the shutdown of the game as well as staying prepared for a potential return.

And he says that will be no different for players also.

“Mentally from their point of view, you can’t say to them to look at it as an off-season,” he said.

“It’s longer than that. It’s been a real challenging time for all.

“Speaking to the players, they certainly miss it and want to be in the position where they’ve been hands on so when they do come back in, they’re fit.

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“I think they’ve missed the camaraderie of everyone being together.

“Everybody’s health is the biggest concern.

“If we were to return, it means everything is safe and well to do so. If not, we won’t.

“Lives cannot be put at risk. Before a ball is kicked again, we definitely have to agree on that.”

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