Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has revealed how he is helping hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic, after buying hundreds of tablets.
The NHS is being stretched by the spread of the virus, with the number of cases now exceeding 17,000 and there being over 1,000 deaths.
While football is suspended until at least April 30th, which could be extended further, Alderweireld is training at home but could not sit idly on the sidelines waiting for the pandemic to end.
Instead, he spoke to hospitals about what they needed and is now donating tablets to help those in isolation keep in contact with their loved ones.
"In the UK, we're a little bit behind Europe because I've got the news from Belgium, Holland, Spain and Italy, so I was already a little bit in the coronavirus state of mind," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"So I called my dad and said we have to do something. We have to try to help, so were brainstorming and my dad contacted some hospitals, to see how we can do something.
"They said look, it sounds crazy but we need tablets for the people who are getting isolated, especially for the older people who don't have a phone with internet and things like this, so they need tablets so they can call family and friends.
"When you're sick, you always want the people that you love close to you but now that is impossible. That's why we bought tablets to give to hospitals, nursing homes and people like that."
The Tottenham defender also spoke about the challenges of being in self-isolation and maintaining fitness without the teammates he would usually see every day.
With no clear guideline on when football can return, it makes for a difficult situation but Alderweireld is trying to keep upbeat during this time.
"Of course you miss the banter, to go there and achieve something as a team when you train, it's mentally difficult to do it on your own," he told BBC 5 Live
"As a football player, you do everything as a team from day one, you always work as a team. Maybe for individual sports it's different but now we have to things all by yourself.
"It's a strange feeling but we try to be positive and hopefully we can control this virus and get things back to normal. Of course, it's not going to be easy but I hope so."
