England duo Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell have today trained at a ‘private location’, away from their team-mates, after being forced into isolation.
The Three Lions’ Euro 2020 campaign was thrown into disarray this week after both players were advised to stay away from the squad, having come into close contact with Covid-positive Scotland star Billy Gilmour.
Gareth Southgate’s team took to the pitch this morning ahead of their last-16 tie against Germany, and Mount and Chilwell were kept apart entirely.
After talks between the Football Association (FA) and Public Health England (PHE), a decision was reached for midfielder Mount and left back Chilwell to self-isolate until next Monday.
The tight restrictions, which are in place to prevent a mass outbreak which may derail the tournament, will see the pair train and dine separately until they are permitted to return fully to the group.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed on Wednesday night that the FA were exploring the idea of Mount and Chilwell taking part in socially-distanced training over the next few days, however.
England players Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell trained in private, away from team-mates, on Thursday morning (pictured: the two stars during a session on Monday)
Mount and Chilwell came into close contact with Covid-positive Scotland star Billy Gilmour (C)
Southgate is understood to still be hopeful that the two Chelsea players will be able to play some part in the knockout fixture at Wembley.
Whether or not they will be involved will depend heavily on the standard of their training in the sessions leading up to Tuesday.
The FA hope that the pair will be able to return to the larger drills, should they continue to return negative tests.
After being told to isolate until next Monday, Mount (left) and Chilwell (centre) will train and dine separately (pictured: both players on Monday)
PHE initially told the governing body that Mount and Chilwell would have to train on their own at St George’s Park, England’s base, until Monday – but boss Southgate has since asked for clarification.
During the discussions, the FA are believed to have pointed out the socially-distancing training which took place before Project Restart last summer, in the weeks ahead of the Premier League’s return.
Then, players were only able to work in small groups of five, before standard contact training resumed a fortnight later.
With this precedent in mind, Southgate would like both players to be permitted to take part in meaningful exercises.
The FA have asked for permission from Public Health England to allow Mount and Chilwell to take part in socially-distanced training this week
Despite the crackdown during the top-flight’s early days back in training, the Three Lions coach would prefer Mount and Chilwell to follow those rules at least, rather than be effectively limited to working on their fitness.
The rules would see them banned from tackling, or indeed any form of contact, and they would therefore miss out on drills around team shape and the tactical intricacies as a result.
Southgate, though, wants to see as much of the stars as possible, particularly Mount, with a view to using him as an option from the bench against Germany.
It is also understood the FA remain confused as to why the two players have been forced to isolate, while none of Scotland’s squad were advised to do the same.
Gareth Southgate wants to see Mount as much as possible, with a view to potentially naming him on the bench for the last-16 tie against Germany
This is despite them sharing the same dressing room, team coach and dining areas as their sidelined midfielder.
Mount, Chilwell and Gilmour were seen chatting on the pitch after the goalless draw last week, and also conversed inside the Wembley tunnel area.
When speaking to PHE, the FA argued that the size of the tunnel, as well as the fact it is open to the elements, meant their two stars should not be deemed as close contacts – but the argument ultimately fell short.
Both Chelsea players have returned two negative Covid-19 tests this week, but will be forced to see out their isolation to the end.