MATT PENNEY is one of the few English footballers back in training as he currently plays in Germany.
But the Sheffield Wednesday full-back, currently on loan at St Pauli in Bundesliga II, gets an instant reminder of the coronavirus crisis back home when he speaks to his mum Denise, as she is a nurse in a hospital intensive care ward.
While his former team-mates are attempting to keep fit around their homes, the left-back from Chesterfield is able to kick a ball again.
The clubs in the top two divisions in Germany have received Government approval to train in the hope of restarting the Leagues in early May and finishing in late June.
Penney, 22, lives in a country which appears to have dealt well with the coronavirus but is under no illusions of the problems back in England.
He said: “They are handing things a bit differently over here. It seems the German people have taken on the advice and listened. Maybe they are more obedient. I have looked online in England and there are videos of people playing cricket in parks
“My mum is a nurse in Chesterfield and is in an intensive care unit. It is normally one ward of eight and now it is four wards of eight. It is crazy and obviously worrying and very difficult.
“Here in Germany, we have been allowed to train again but we have to be two metres apart.
“At the start of last week, Dortmund and Bayern Munich were all back and we were all allowed the day after.
“We are training in groups of five. There are three groups of five at the training ground but all at different times. Then there are two groups at the stadium, all at different times.
“It feels so good. It is so much better than standard running around a lake or a park which we were doing before.
“At the moment, the aim is for both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga II to return in May and finish as soon as possible.
“There will be two or three games a week but we need to get the season finished. It will feel strange not having any fans in the stadiums as they will be behind closed doors. But, if it is safe, we should do it.”
Back in training since last Tuesday, Penney was not tested for coronavirus but has been told he should remain at home if he suffers any symptoms.
He made 17 appearances for Wednesday last season but with his first-team chances looking slim last August, was signed on loan by Dutch coach Jos Luhukay, his manager at Hillsborough in 2018.
Penney joined St Pauli at the same time as former Arsenal trainee James Lawrence, the Welsh international who arrived on loan from Anderlecht.
Penney added: “I always said to myself that at some point, I would love to play abroad and experience a different culture.
“St Pauli did not win any of their first few games and I was asked if I fancied it. It was a no-brainer as it was a great opportunity. Hamburg is a great city and a lovely place to live.”
The club, which sells out its 29,000-capacity stadium each week, has a fierce rivalry with Hamburg.
With nine games to go, St Pauli are 11th and Hamburg third. But in the city derby, St Pauli won both games with Penney scoring a goal in a 2-0 away win in February, in front of 57,000 fans.
He said: “The supporters here are incredible. I have been having quite a few mates come over and watch the games but if I cannot get any more tickets, it is difficult as they do not go on general sale. All the games are sold out.
“We have a few games left and now, I just hope we can return to the season although, we all know that at the moment, some things are more important.”
