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Cillian Sheridan dismisses fears about returning to training

Cillian Sheridan has been in isolation for the last two weeks ahead of a return to training.

Ireland striker Cillian Sheridan has dismissed fears about returning to training during the coronavirus crisis.

The 31-year-old is due to begin working in small groups with club Wisla Plock in Poland on Monday.

The Ekstraklasa could resume on May 29 if a five-step plan for the country goes ahead, which includes schools and gyms reopening.

Sergio Aguero has raised his concerns about returning to action while three Cologne players have tested positive for Covid-19 after resuming training.

But former Celtic forward Sheridan, who has three caps for Ireland, remains confident.

He told the PA news agency: "It hasn't been in my thoughts, that part of it, but I can understand people who will be feeling that. Even now it's not something I'd really be thinking of and, at the same time, I trust what they're doing.

"The league and FA know the risks if they are making players come back to play. They won't want to put players' health at risk. They are going to put things in place to make sure it's safe for everyone coming back.

"We've had to fill in a medical report every day which gets sent to the league so they have been monitoring every player for the last week. They are going to do it for two weeks and as soon as someone flags something up they have to go and isolate.

"As far as I know there are no players here who have caught it here."

Poland started relaxing some restrictions last month, reopening forests and parks and also outdoor sports areas.

It is hoped full team training will restart in around a week and Sheridan, who moved to Plock in February after a spell with Ironi Kiryat Shmona in Israel, believes players must take responsibility.

"All the players want to get back. Everyone is doing what they need to do," said the Ireland international, who has taken a pay cut. "The players know it could hurt the clubs if the season isn't finished, which in turn will hurt the players.

"Everyone has bought into how important it is.

Soccer – Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League – Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic Park
Sheridan started his career at Celtic. (Chris Clark/PA)

"It's going to be so weird when we come back. We have 11 games left and they're planning to do it in about a month.

"It'll be a game very three days, it's not something you're ever going to do.
"It'll be interesting how teams manage the games and injuries

"If we have three games in a week, normally you'd have two or three days off but that's not going to come now."

Soccer – International Friendly – Republic of Ireland v Argentina – Aviva Stadium
Sheridan made his Ireland debut in 2010. (Niall Carson/PA)

Plock are 10th in the Ekstraklasa with four games left before the league splits in half for the final seven matches.

The top eight sides play in the championship round while the bottom eight play to avoid relegation with the league hoping to boost its viewers once it returns.

"The aim was to get into the top eight, we're a point away. If we can win two of the games it should get us there," said Sheridan, who previously played in Poland for Jagiellonia.

"I think the league has been negotiating to sell the rights to the other countries because they'll be one of the few playing. Everyone's going to be wanting to watch sport so they are hopefully going to capitalise on that."

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Kenny Dalglish pictured on October 14, 2017
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic330087285987
2RangersRangers320179275281
3Hearts311149371266
4Kilmarnock31114538755
5St Mirren31024247-546
6Dundee30034662-1641
Relegation Group
1Motherwell32015554143
2Hibernian21014854-642
3Aberdeen22003749-1241
4Ross County31023564-2933
5St Johnstone30032652-2631
RLivingston32012764-3724
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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