Newcastle manager Steve Bruce says Premier League players are unlikely to be ready to resume the season until the end of June, adding an earlier start would see them "fall down like a pack of cards".
Provisional plans for Project Restart were for a June 12 resumption, though that looks to have hit a stumbling block with disagreements over playing at neutral venues and concerns over player safety.
A June 19 date has been discussed, but Bruce says that players will not be match fit until the end of the month, having been inactive since the middle of March.
"We've listened to what has been said and, with the precautions taken, we will get back to work and start phase one," Bruce said in the Sunday Telegraph. "Can we get to that stage where we can have all the players on the pitch together? We don't know yet.
"Phase one will be mainly fitness work, four or five players on a pitch. Let's see how we get on.
"You have to remember that they have had eight weeks off and that is probably the longest break some of these players have had in their careers.
"If we were doing pre-season, we would have six weeks and probably have six friendly games to get them ready for the first league match.
"So, we need a good stretch of time here to get them ready. Certainly once we get into stage two, that is vitally important. We need enough preparation to get these players into shape or they are just going to fall down like a pack of cards.
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Best celebrations in football
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Kylian Mbappe has his brother to thank for his arms crossed celebration. The Paris Saint-Germain and France striker said that he stole the look from his brother, Ethan, who did it after scoring a goal playing the Fifa computer game. Reuters -
Denmark forward Brian Laudrup, right, had a couple of inspirations for his famous celebration after scoring against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup quarter-final in France. "Before the game, my son said to me ‘Dad, you’re so boring when you celebrate after the goals. Come out with something’. And I was a little inspired by Roberto Di Matteo. I remembered when watching Chelsea’s games, he scored a goal and he lay down more or less in the same way. So, I said ‘OK, if I score against Brazil, I will do something similar’." AFP -
A remarkable goal with a famous celebration. Manchester United striker Eric Cantona had lobbed Sunderland goalkeeper - and his former Nimes teammate - Lionel Perez in spectacular fashion. Cantona barely moved from the spot as pirouetted in slow motion and soaked up the applause. Years later, Cantona would reveal that Perez had refused to shake his hand in the tunnel before the game. "Maybe I scored this goal because of that," said Cantona. "That’s the biggest humiliation for a goalkeeper, and this kind of celebration too. I just stand there. Look at me.” Getty -
Juventus attacker Paulo Dybala says his 'mask' celebration was inspired by the Russell Crowe film 'Gladiator'. He said: "I went on holiday and was watching 'Gladiator' on TV and that's when I decided that, my next goal, to celebrate as a gladiator. So I celebrated like it - and am now still celebrating like it. AFP -
Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil's 'M' goal celebration is a tribute to his young niece. He said: "She's called Mira and when I score now, the goals are for her." Reuters -
Bayern Munich's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski remains tight-lipped, relatively, about his signature celebration - fingers pointing and hands crossed across his chest. “The celebration has something to do with my daughter,” he said. “I don’t want to go into details, it’s a little secret. I want to show that my family are always behind me, as that has helped me a lot in my career as a footballer.” AFP -
An infamous celebration of a miss, rather than of scoring. The bitter rivalry between Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and Alex Ferguson's Manchester United sides would spill over a few times over the season. In 2003, Ruud Van Nistelrooy missed a last-minute penalty and Arsenal players, including the likes of Martin Keown and Ashley Cole, rushed over to make their feelings known at Old Trafford. Getty -
If anyone's boots deserved a regular buffing, it was the Brazilian great Ronaldo. After scoring Inter Milan's third goal in their Uefa Cup final victory over Lazio in Paris, the attacker was given a mock shoe shine by teammate Francesco Moriero. Reuters -
Cristiano Ronaldo's patented aerial half-turn and outstretched arms routine has become all-too familiar to defenders across the world. After scoring the last-minute penalty that saw Real Madrid squeak past Juventus at the Bernabeu and into the Uefa Champions League semi-finals in 2018, Ronaldo decided flashing some flesh was more appropriate. EPA -
Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, above, were both fined following their controversial celebrations in the 2018 World Cup win over Serbia. The pair, who are of Albanian-Kosovan heritage, celebrated by putting their hands together to form a double-headed eagle, similar to the one on the Albanian flag. Conflict between Serbia and the Albanian population of Kosovo in the 1990s has left plenty of ill-feeling between the two nations Reuters -
Robbie Keane performs his trademark cartwheel celebration after scoring for Tottenham Hotspur against Liverpool in the Premier League in 2004. Keane has revealed that he used to do the celebration playing on the streets of Dublin as a youngster. "As a kid on the streets growing up we used to just mess about and I used to do it messing around," he said. "My mates would say ‘if you make it as a footballer let’s do it’ so I carried on doing it and everywhere I went then people wanted to see it." Getty -
The Zlatan Ibrahimovic arms outstretched celebration has been well-used throughout his career across leagues in Sweden, Italy, Spain, France, the US and, above, England with Manchester United. Getty -
After scoring Liverpool's second in their 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Anfield in 2019, Mohamed Salah stood in front of supporters, raised his left leg to the knee on his right leg and put his hands together as if in prayer. The explanation is simple. "I am a yoga man!" Salah said after the game. "I do yoga and it just came into my mind." EPA -
When Jonas Gutierrez scored the goal against West Ham that helped Newcastle United stay in the Premier League in 2015, the midfielder had a point to make in his final game for the club. The Argentine ran over towards the directors’ box at St James’ Park, cupped his ears and stared up at owner Mike Ashley. Gutierrez had been furious at what he felt had been a lack of support from the club after he had recovered from cancer. Getty -
After scoring the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, Andres Iniesta pealed off his strip to reveal a message on his t-shirt that read: ‘Dani Jarque: Always with us’. Jarque, who played for La Liga club Espanyol, had died of a heart attack the year before aged 26. Espanyol’s then-president Sanchez Llibre said: “Iniesta is a great player, but he will also be remembered with great fondness by the Espanyol supporters and the world of football when he retires.” Getty -
Newcastle United attacker Lomana Lualua's triple somersaults in full flow after scoring against Derby County in 2002. The inspiration for the Congo-born player's routine is unlikely, to say the least. "We used to have this little monkey in my house and I saw him doing these flips and at that age, I was fearless, so I would copy it," he said. "I’d try it on my own or my mum's bed and I think I broke many beds in my time." Getty -
Luis Suarez did not take too kindly to Everton manager David Moyes' suggestion that "divers" such as the Uruguayan were putting fans off the English game. So when the Liverpool striker scored during the Meseyside derby in 2012, he headed straight towards the Everton bench and sliding on his chest in front of Moyes. "I actually quite liked that and it is the sort of thing I'd have done if I'd scored," said Moyes afterwards. "He is going to have to dive in front of a lot of managers now, isn't he?" Getty -
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had an unusual celebration after Marouane Fellaini scored a later winner against Young Boys in the Champions League game at Old Trafford in 2018. He kicked one set over one set of water bottles before picking up and throwing down another, sending liquid flying over fans in the front row before raising his arms up and returning to the touchline. “Relief,” Mourinho said of his celebrations. “Frustration before that and relief with the goal." Reuters -
Costa Rica's Joel Campbell celebrated his goal against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, by sticking the ball up his top and sucking his thumb. An explanation was provided after the game. “I’m going to have a son soon, which is why I celebrated my goal the way I did,” he said. “Celebrating his arrival with a World Cup goal is the best thing that can happen to me." Getty -
In the 1990 World Cup in Italy, England defender Stuart Pearce has been left in tears after missing a penalty in the semi-final shootout defeat to Germany. Fast forward to the 1996 European Championships on home turf, Pearce stepped up again in the quarter-final shootout against Spain. He made no mistake this time as England sealed a spot in the last four and Pearce celebrated like he had exorcised a few demons. Getty -
Bafetimbi Gomis celebrates scoring for Swansea City against Sunderland in trademark style by getting on his hands and knees and clawing like a cat. As you do. The routine is apparently a tribute to former Saint-Etienne player Salif Keita, whose nickname was "The Black Panther". Getty -
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan had stunned the football world when he signed for English second-tier side Newcastle United in 1982. On his debut against Queens Park Rangers at St James' Park, Keegan scored a second-half winner to send more than 35,000 fans into meltdown, as the attacker was mobbed on the pitch by delighted fans. Getty -
Marseille's French midfielder Dimitri Payet decided to get into the festive spirit by sporting this Santa Claus hat after scoring for Marseille against Nimes in December, 2019. AFP -
A second mention for Jose Mourinho, this time when the Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho saw his team win 2-1 at Juventus. After being booed for the entire game in Turin, the former Inter Milan manager proceeded to stroll round the pitch with hand cupped to ear after his team scored two late goals, thus endearing himself to the locals even more. Reuters -
Ian Wright went down the special t-shirt route to mark breaking the Arsenal goalscoring record of 178 goals set by Cliff Bastin. The English striker would pull up his Arsenal top to proudly show off a t-shirt with the words '179 - Just Done It!' after grabbing his second against Bolton - although in his excitement he had also done the same after the record-equalling first goal at Highbury. Wright would go on to complete his hat-trick. Allsport
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"Most of the managers have the same concerns. We would need at least six weeks. I don't see how we can play games until the back end of June."
Bruce said that, providing all of his players and staff return negative tests, Newcastle will start group training on Tuesday.
"Certainly, the measures being put in place, you're probably more at risk going to the supermarket or putting petrol in your car," he added. "We are in a fortunate position, we can get tested every three days.
"We will be tested on Sunday, every player and every member of staff. Once we get the results back, if everybody is OK, we are pencilled to start training again at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon."
On-loan defender Danny Rose will be part of the group, even though he expressed his views on returning in no uncertain terms earlier this week.
He said that "football shouldn't even be spoke about coming back" until the numbers of people being infected have "dropped massively".
Bruce added: "Danny Rose expressed his concerns, but I've spoken to him and he is coming back as well. I don't think there is a footballer out there who has done more for the NHS throughout this than Danny.
"If a player refuses to come in or play, I have sympathy for that and would understand it. Most of my players are happy with it.
"There was a captain's meeting as well and, as a squad, they are happy with the measures that are being put in place. You have to respect everybody's personal views on it."
