Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed he is aware of Premier League players ready to snub a return to action next month.
The ex-Aston Villa striker, who revealed in March he’d recovered from coronavirus symptoms, says he remains apprehensive about plans for a return to football.
“I feel uneasy for the players,” he said. “They are going to be put into a tough position by their clubs. It’s going to be a phone call or a video call saying: ‘Do you want to come back?’
“Fifty percent might say yes, 50percent might say no. From speaking to some of the players over the last couple of weeks, a few of them that I’ve spoken to have said: ‘I don’t want to go back and a few have said: ‘I’m not going back.’
“So it’s a tough situation for the players to be in. Everyone is in a different position with family members as well. If you’ve got a family member with underlying conditions, are you going to risk it and go back? I don’t think so.”
After Premier League club doctors raised concerns around a potential return, the Premier League set out an extensive range of measures designed to allow fears and protect players.
But, speaking to Talksport’s Kick-Off show on Thursday night, Agbonlahor insisted players remain unconvinced and are ready to stand their ground.
“I’ve spoken to a few players, around the Premier League,” he added. “Obviously I can’t name them, but they are not easy on going back. They don’t want to go back.
“They feel uncomfortable with the way that it’s all rushed as well. If you look at when the season is looking to start, the players will have been off for six to eight weeks and they’ll have to play in three or so weeks. It just looks like it's all been rushed.
“If it comes to a choice - and I think it will do - I think there will be a lot of players in the Premier League that won’t be going back.”
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