Fleetwood Town back in training as Simon Wiles takes first session

Players and staff spent the past week in self-isolation after the club reported some positive Covid-19 tests on New Year’s Eve.

These tests were undertaken at the club’s own expense before the EFL announced the start of twice-weekly testing for all its 72 clubs last week.

Former Academy boss Wiles was put in temporary charge of the first team last Monday, hours after the departure of Joey Barton.

Wiles and assistant Steve Macauley will have only one further session today before their first match in charge at Hull City in the third round of the Papa John’s Trophy tomorrow.

Town’s previous outings in this competition have seen plenty of young players given the nod and it will interesting to see whether former Blackpool player and coach Wiles approaches this 5.30pm tie differently.

Town have been out of action since Boxing Day’s 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra and Wiles may be tempted to select more senior players to boost match sharpness ahead of Saturday’s scheduled return to league action against Portsmouth.

Fleetwood have seen three League One matches postponed since facing Crewe and dropped out of the top-10 on Saturday, when Sunderland earned a draw with second-placed Hull.

Tomorrow’s opponents Hull have had Covid issues of their own and went a fortnight without a game over Christmas.