James Ward-Prowse is champing at the bit to resume Southampton’s Premier League campaign – but the England international knows football is “totally irrelevant” at a time when NHS workers are fighting the coronavirus.

It is five weeks since Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side last took to the field, with the sporting landscape brought to a shuddering halt as the world attempts to get a grip on the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Premier League is indefinitely suspended until play is safe to resume, meaning there are many more weeks – and perhaps even months – before the final quarter of the season can be played.

Ward-Prowse is as desperate as anyone to get back to action, but it is hard to focus on the football side of things when there are far more serious matters dominating everyday life.

“Football seems totally irrelevant when you put into perspective what they’re going through at the minute,” the Saints midfielder said of the work being done by the NHS.

“I don’t know in my friends and family anyone who does work there, but having seen the news, and seeing the odd bit here and there, you can see the pressure that they’re under and the challenges they’re facing.

“This period is giving everyone time to reflect, personally and stuff like that,” he added.

“But, yeah, for sure from the club’s point of view, we’re in a great position where, yeah, OK, we’re above the bottom three, but equally we’ve got a great foundation and base now to kick on up the league if we want to. It’s there for us.

“To finish in the top 10 would be a great achievement for us this year and I firmly believe we’ve got the ability and the team to do that.”