Medical Expert: Gerrard ‘tightening’ rules at Aston Villa amid ‘WhatsApp group’ claim
Aston Villa will be employing a whole host of workarounds to minimise the risk of further Covid cases at Bodymoor Heath.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Per Birmingham Live on Monday (13 December), Steven Gerrard confirmed that two Villa players and two staff members have tested positive.
Gerrard’s side are slated to play Burnley, who have one positive case among their squad, tomorrow afternoon (18 December).
Dinnery listed a number of measures that Villa hope will help them navigate this phase of the pandemic.
“There is a lot of confusing information,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“It’s complicated, rarely black and white. The message is convoluted. Without going into specifics, you wonder how to trust half the stuff that is being said.
“But clubs throughout the pandemic have been pretty good in terms of working in their bubble.
“But there is now going to be tightening of the rules at individual clubs. Players won’t be doing car shares, for instance.
“They will likely arrive fully dressed for training. There will be minimal time spent indoors. Daily testing and temperature checks will also come into play.
“The players will have daily reminders on their WhatsApp groups, driven by the medical team.
“If you do have to go indoors for gym-based work, they’ll operate a rota. Massage and treatment will be limited to a 15-minute period.“
“Steven Gerrard and his staff will just have to do everything they can.“
Villa have enjoyed an impressive start to life under Steven Gerrard, losing only to Liverpool and Man City in his six games at the helm.
They could move as high as 7th with a victory over Burnley tomorrow, though mass Covid cancellations have disrupted the game week cycle.
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