Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka reveals the impact of coronavirus lockdown on knee injury recovery

Speaking to the Slovakian press, the Newcastle United goalkeeper opened up on what life is like for a professional footballer in injury rehabilitation while under strict sanction due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK.

“Every day it gets better,” Dubravka told Sport.

“On Monday I passed the first lighter run. On Tuesday I was supposed to have my first training on the pitch but I had to change plans due to the strict measures in England.”

And Dubravka, injured in United’s last Premier League clash with Southampton, does not anticipate things getting any easier on the restriction front.

“It will become even harder than ever,” he said.

“Everything is closing, only food and pharmacies will be open.

“We must no longer meet anyone in the team in order to not spread the disease. Everything is over the phone.”

Dubravka has this week been named as runner up in the Slovakian player of the year for 2019, finishing behind Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar.

And the United keeper joked it was a shock to finish above Slovakia’s best Marek Hamsik and Martin Skrtel.

“Finishing second is fantastic. Especially because goalkeepers tend to find it hard in these polls. It is a great honour for me, but at the same time I’m glad that Milan Skriniar won, it is clearly deserved,” said Dubravka.

“He had an excellent year to lead Inter Milan as a captain, that’s something amazing.

“It’s not often with us that someone other than Marek Hamsik or Martin Skrtel will win. However, I believe the time will come when we can enjoy it together. Maybe we’ll meet in the near future, now we have to adapt to the current situation.”

The 31-year-old, who was ruled out until May with injury, continued: “The fans are usually very demanding, it is not easy to satisfy them, so I am more pleased to have received so many votes from them. It is a great honour for me and the greatest individual award of my career.”