Slovakia star Marek Hamsik is back in training as China targets a start date for football.
The former Napoli ace will be Slovakia’s star turn in the Euro 2020 playoff against Ireland later this year.
That game in Bratislava was due to be played in March and then June but has been postponed until September at the earliest.
Hamsik was in danger of missing the original March date as the start of the Chinese Super League was delayed because of Covid-19.
It was due to kick-off on February 22 but the spread of the virus then forced a global lockdown of all sports, affecting all playoff-bound players.
But football chiefs in China have today pinpointed a likely start date and Hamsik - who plays for Rafa Benitez’s Dalian Professional - is back on the training ground.
“Based on an assessment of the situation, the new season will start at the end of June or beginning of July,” said Huang Shenghua, chairman of rival club Guangzhou.
Huang claims the Chinese Super League season will be played in full with all teams expected to fulfill their 30-match top-flight campaigns.
