Chelsea midfielder NGolo Kante has been permitted to miss the clubs return to training at stay at home over his coronavirus fears.
The Blues first-team squad returned to training in small groups on Tuesday, and Kante joined his teammates as he was tested negative for COVID-19 before going to work on the Cobham pitches.
Kepa, Kante, Zouma and Pulisic were back in Chelsea training on Tuesday, but Kante hasn’t been back since
But it is claimed the midfielder also used his return to the club to voice his health and safety concerns about the Premier Leagues Project Restart plans.
And, according to the Daily Telegraph, the World Cup winner was granted compassionate leave, approved by manager Frank Lampard, to miss the second day of training on Wednesday.
Kantes older brother, Niama, died of a heart attack shortly before the 2018 World Cup and the midfielder lost his father when he was just 11 years old.
A few months before his brother passed away, Kante even fainted himself in training, before being given a clean bill of health by the club.
The Chelsea man is not the only Premier League star who does not want return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Watford captain Troy Deeney revealed earlier this week that he will be staying home over concerns for his newly born son sons health, as well as unanswered issues around BAME players.
Deeney is incredibly skeptical about the Premier Leagues Project Restart
There are widespread reports that people of black, Asian and mixed ethnicities are four times more likely to contract the virus, and twice as likely to have long-lasting illness.
It is claimed captain Deeneys stance, plus the fact one Watford player and two members of staff tested positive for COVID-19 this week, has led to other Hornets players also refusing to report to training.
Deeney has had plenty of support from his peers after his outspoken interview, with Tottenham defender Danny Rose saying saying players are being treated like guinea pigs and lab rats.
But, speaking to talkSPORT this week, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan said his refusal to return to training was wrong.
I have a lot of respect for Troy Deeney but I would be disappointed in him, and his position to turn around at phase one and say hes not coming back, said the talkSPORT pundit.
I respect him as a player and I respect him as a leader at that football club, and he is entitled to make this choice.
But to go straight of the gate and say, no, under no circumstances, irrespective of what you do, Im not coming back, it seems wrong to me.
Freddie Flintoff defends Watford captain Troy Deeney over return snub – You dont have to agree, just respect his decision.
Former Premier League striker Darren Bent doesnt agree, though, and told the talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday that he wouldnt return to training either if he was still playing.
When asked if he would have gone back, Bent said: Probably not, because Ive obviously got young children at home. So for me, I probably wouldnt.
I would have reservations before what came out yesterday [about players contracting coronavirus] that I wouldnt have come back after they talked about the risk to black players or ethnicity players. That would have been kind of a red flag.
To say you know what, Im not going back until I get more answers, Deeney was brilliant So until that situation is cleared up. I dont think Id go back.
If it came to me and they said listen, youre not gonna come back, well youre gonna have to take a pay cut, then thats fair enough, because my familys health comes before anything.