Newcastle United and rival Premier League clubs set to vote on key step forward

The Premier League's contact training proposals will be voted on by the 20 clubs at a shareholders' meeting, if approved then it will be another important step forward ahead of the return of top flight action later next month.

All football has been suspended since the coronavirus pandemic hit in mid-March, with players training alone at home before the return to small group training last week.

The Newcastle United squad were among the clubs to return to training last week following strict guidelines, which included staggered arrival times, players parking in designated parking bays, small groups at a time and the use of masks, with all equipment cleaned.

The next step would be a return to contact training, with hopes that will get the green light on Wednesday.

Based on the 'Elite sport return to training guidance: Stage Two' guidelines issued earlier this week by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), these are some of the measures included:

- The guidelines state close contact is any interaction within the two-metre social distancing boundary.

- Contact will be limited and gradual. The DCMS guidance recommends that initial contact work is done in clusters of two to three people, extended to groups of between four and 12, before ultimately returning to full team training.

- Social distancing should be practised at all other times.

- Sessions so far have been lasting no more than 75 minutes and it is not yet clear whether that time frame will be expanded.

A big part of the return to small group training last week was the comprehensive testing programme put in place and twice-weekly testing will continue.

The results are published with the next set due on Wednesday, although individual clubs/players or staff members are not named if there is a positive test.

Anyone testing positive has to self-isolate for seven days before being tested again. A key difference once contact training starts is that any individuals that person has been in close contact with must also isolate.