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Midfielder James Ward-Prowse is champing at the bit to resume Southampton's campaign, but knows football is "totally irrelevant" at a time when NHS workers are fighting the coronavirus.
It is five weeks since Ralph Hasenhuttl's side last took to the field, with the sporting landscape brought to a shuddering halt as the world attempts to get a grip on the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Premier League is indefinitely suspended until play is safe to resume, meaning there are many more weeks and perhaps even months before the final quarter of the season can be played.
Ward-Prowse is as desperate as anyone to get back to action, but it is hard to focus on the football side of things when there are far more serious matters dominating everyday life.
"Football seems totally irrelevant when you put into perspective what they're going through at the minute," the Saints midfielder said of the work being done by the NHS.
"I don't know in my friends and family anyone who does work there, but having seen the news, and seeing the odd bit here and there, you can see the pressure that they're under and the challenges they're facing.
"As individuals in football, you can go into the weekend thinking we're annoyed about maybe not playing or losing a game, or a refereeing decision not going our way.
"But that all seems very, very minor now compared to things that the NHS workers are going through.
"I think as a collective within football, but also in general, everyone can take a lot of inspiration from the way that the NHS is performing. I think it's incredibly humbling to see."
- TEAMtalk media
