Cornick: No football isn’t fun but has to be done

Attacker continuing to train hard at home
Harry Cornick in action against Charlton recentlyHarry Cornick in action against Charlton recently
Harry Cornick in action against Charlton recently

Although frustrated to be left kicking his heels at home, Luton attacker Harry Cornick knows there are more important things to worry about than football with the current coronavirus pandemic gripping the globe.

Hatters’ players and the rest of the country are currently in a lockdown issued by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last Monday to try and stop the spread of the virus.

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It means that the football season has been suspended, with Town also stopping training at the Brache as well.

On the postponement, Cornick, who had scored eight goals in 39 appearances this season, told ITV Anglia: “It’s gutting for everyone.

“I thought I was playing well, but the country needs us to stay at home and not spread the virus and that’s what we need to do.

“It’s gutting for the club and for all football fans really, but there’s more important things than football at the minute, so that’s got to be done.

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“It’s not going to be the most fun three weeks for everyone, but we’ve got to do it - stay inside, trying to stop spreading the virus and try to help the NHS by any means necessary to keep people out of hospitals.

“It’s not been easy, it’s been a bit boring, but needs must.

“I think we’ve got to put everyone’s best interests at heart, and that’s to stop playing games - which is not good, but it’s got to be done.”

Although at home, the Town players are still being put through their paces, with head of sports science James Redden and his team, including Luke Sanders and Elliott Plant, keeping in daily contact.

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On what tasks the players have been set, Cornick said: “We’ve been given some exercises to do from our sports scientist to try and stay fit.

“It’s a bit of everything really, we got sent a programme to go on a 5k run, so I just went around the block really.

“Some mornings I’m on the spin bike doing a few sprints on there, sometimes I’m picking up a few weights to do some squats - just trying to stay active really.

“Nothing too crazy, just some low-level exercise really.”

What makes it difficult for Cornick and the rest of the Town squad is that they have no real idea when to be ready to go again, adding: “It’s tough to know when we’ve got to be fit for at the minute.

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“We don’t want to do too much exercise and then not be able to play again for months, which wouldn’t be good.

“So, we’re just trying to stay fit so we can go back at any time.

“It’s going to be tough now because everyone’s going to be training on their own

“No-one’s going to be doing any football exercises, so when we go back for that first session I don’t think anyone’s touch is going to be great!

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“It’s just about trying to stay fit now really so we can go back, train and get ready for that first game, whenever that will be.”

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