Premier League star jokes about 'injecting covid-19' to avoid relegation

Watford defender Christian Kabasele [COURTESY]

Watford defender Christian Kabasele has issued a tongue-in-cheek response to an accusation from a Sheffield United fan that he and his teammates are trying to avoid returning to action in order save themselves from relegation.

The Hornets are currently without six players after Adrian Mariappa tested positive for Covid-19, with two others self-isolating and three, including Troy Deeney, opting not to return to training.

The Blades supporter took to Twitter to air his grievances, posting: "I've never had much opinion either way about Watford before this but they have behaved despicably throughout this all (sp) situation, the tactics employed to try to avoid a relegation are ridiculously transparent. I'd be embarrassed if I was a Watford supporter."

So let me explain our tactic : we are doing one injection of ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/covid19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#covid19< once a week. We draw the player/membre of staff who get it like this we are sur that we never play again and avoid relegation ????????‍??="https://twitter.com/hashtag/watfordfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#watfordfc< ="https://t.co/FdfMF4vqoB">https://t.co/FdfMF4vqoB< — Christian Kabasele (@chriskabasele27) ="https://twitter.com/chriskabasele27/status/1264306615110512646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2020<

Kabasele responded in a sarcastic manner on social media, saying: "So let me explain our tactic: we are doing one injection of covid19 once a week. We draw the player/membre of staff who get it like this we are sure that we never play again and avoid relegation," along with an emoji of a person covering their face with their hand.

With the Premier League's Project Restart still in phase one, it remains to be seen exactly if and when the division will be able to return, with suggestions the action could get back underway as soon as June 12.

Kabasele is not convinced this would be possible, however, and speaking recently on the Counter Attack podcast he urged for caution from the powers that be.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet," he said. "Personally I follow the news through the media because nothing has been official for the moment.

"We (see) speak about June 12. I think it is impossible because it would be less than three weeks training after a long period without doing anything, it’s a risk for us.

"I’m not sure, I don’t have any information but I think we are not going to start June 12. The most obvious choice for me is the end of June. Like this you have at least four weeks to train with the team if it’s possible.

"We will see. For the moment it’s a big question mark on this."