Business as usual - or as usual as possible - for Chris Wilder and his squad

Despite fears, which were later realised, that the match would not go ahead as scheduled, Chris Wilder’s squad reported for duty at the Steelphalt Academy this morning ostensibly to finalise their preparations for the visit to Newcastle.

That game, together with the rest of the PL and EFL programme, was later postponed after several members of the English football community confirmed they had either been diagnosed with Covid-19 or were placing themselves in self-isolation.

So, after learning of the decision to place competition on hold until April 4, Wilder and his staff used the get-together to remind those present about the importance of following directives compiled by the club’s in-house medical team in wake of the outbreak.

As The Star revealed earlier this week, United are using technology in an effort to prevent widespread contagion should one of their number test positive.

A mobile phone application, which senior players are required to fill before travelling to work, has been tailored to flag up possible symptoms. The information punched into the system is collated by a United doctor and then relayed to Wilder.

Although the guidance about how to protect themselves from the disease could change over the coming days, anyone suspected of carrying the disease or of having come into contact with a sufferer will immediately be quarantined.