Jordan Henderson sends message to N’Golo Kante after Chelsea star misses training

Jordan Henderson has offered his backing to N’Golo Kante and Troy Deeney after the pair refused to train amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Premier League clubs recalled their players to their training complexes this week, testing the squads for the virus before resuming sessions in small groups.

Deeney said before players began filing back into their clubs he was not comfortable with putting his family at risk, while Kante pulled out of training on Wednesday due to fears over Project Restart.

Chelsea gave Kante permission to miss training and the midfielder is concerned about the dangers of returning to football having once passed out in a session in 2018.

Liverpool, the league leaders, welcomed their players back to Melwood and Henderson was asked how he felt about Kante and Watford skipper Deeney taking a stand against the restart.

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‘I fully respect their opinion and their decision to do that,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘I think everybody is in a different situation with their family and at home.

‘Ultimately, if you don’t feel comfortable or safe, you shouldn’t feel forced or pressured to come into work.

‘I fully respect the lads that don’t feel comfortable as of yet, and I hope that they respect my opinion and that of the other players who have come back.

‘Everybody’s situation is different but ultimately, for me, I feel very safe here at the training ground, otherwise I wouldn’t be here. My team-mates as well.

‘I can only really speak for us, but I fully respect people in different situations who don’t feel comfortable.

‘If any of my team-mates felt like that, I would fully support them and back them until they felt it was right to come back.’

Six positive cases were found in the first round of testing for coronavirus at Premier League clubs.

Watford, Burnley and Brighton confirmed they had received positive tests and Deeney has been particularly concerned about the lack of protection in place for BAME players.

Premier League chiefs intend to restart the 2019/20 campaign in early June and finish the season in July.

MORE: N’Golo Kante misses Chelsea training due to fears over Project Restart

MORE: Dani Ceballos reveals Arsenal’s Premier League return date

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Source: Metro News UK