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Cardiff City attacker Nathaniel Mendez-Laing speaks exclusively to Sky Sports News from his home during the coronavirus blockade
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing points to a return to the Premier League when football returns, but only if it can be done safely.
The 28-year-old striker has recovered from a serious hamstring problem and is ready to participate in Cardiff's bid for a play-off if the championship season works again.
But he is concerned about the threat of contracting the coronavirus, especially since he is part of a vulnerable BAME group, is asthmatic and also has a home partner who is pregnant.
He said Sky Sports News: "It weighs me down a bit. But I also have asthma, it's on the list, and my partner is eight weeks away from childbirth."
"So it's difficult for me, which I discussed very closely with the physio, because if going back to work and being with people is not a completely safe environment, getting pregnant at again with my partner is quite dangerous ""
"As much as anyone involved in football would like to return, and we all would like football to return, but at the same time I always see that we have to get it back, but the health of everyone is the most important thing.
"It is simple and simple; if it is safe to return, we continue, otherwise, too bad, it is not safe enough. But health must come first. I am sure that each club has its own way of getting around these things and I'm sure they wouldn't come back if it weren't safe. "
Méndez-Laing has not been playing since December 29, but has intensified his recovery with intense personal training at home during the closing of the pandemic, in part thanks to his partner, who is also physio.
Mendez-Laing, who scored twice a year in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in relegation from Cardiff, was supposed to miss the rest of the season but is now ready to give up new impetus to his promotion quest, and he wants to return to the Premier League as soon as possible.
He said: "When the layoff occurred, being injured was doomed to lose the rest of the season, so I saw it as a positive thing: that I could come back for the rest of the season and help the kids for the remaining matches, yes that is the case.
"I was in close contact with the kiosks and I followed a personal training program, and my partner is also a physiotherapist, so it was a touch. I stayed in shape and as busy as possible in the garden and running outside. They look good, but when it comes to football, we might be a little rusty. When we enter, we should be good enough to be strong and push for this tiebreaker.
"These goals against United are something he does not forget. He wants to play at the top as long as he can. I want to be there with Cardiff. If it is not the case and that it is elsewhere, so be it. " I have dreams and ambitions that I want to be on top of and I will do whatever it takes to get there. "
