League One chief reveals why Sunderland may have to test their players TWICE A DAY when football returns

That’s the verdict of Portsmouth chief executive Mark Catlin, who has discussed the difficulties that could face clubs when the EFL resumes.

League One is currently on an indefinite hiatus, with all fixtures currently suspended due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

And while the EFL remain committed to completing the 2019/20 season once it is safe to do so, there are a significant number of hurdles still to overcome – including player safety.

Reports last week suggested that as many as 66,000 tests may be required to complete the EFL season as players will have to be tested on a regular basis.

And Catlin, who is keen to season the season conclude, believes that tests may need to be taken more than once a day to ensure the safety of playing squads.

Speaking to the Portsmouth News, he said: “Playing devil’s advocate, and I don't want to really because I’m positive and want to finish the season, the testing and results I’m seeing gives you a snapshot at that time.

“Listening to scientists, they are showing it could show a negative and then you could show the symptoms and test positive the next day.

“So it’s so difficult. I’m assuming the testing would have to be pretty intense in the lead up to any game or even daily or twice a day.

“If there’s testing mechanisms out there, the more we can test and keep people free gives you the greater confidence for games to continue.”

“There’s so much that’s not clear,” he continued.

“This is a new virus and we’ve only known about it for a few months.

“They’re even not clear that if you’ve had it you're immune to getting it again.

“I think the scientists are trying to work it out as well as anyone else.”

Portsmouth remain in the thick of the race for promotion alongside Sunderland, with Kenny Jackett’s side having nine games left to play.