Gillingham boss Steve Evans says his squad remain in good shape.

The Gills were last together for training on March 16 before being sent home following medical advice.

Monday night’s emergency measures to tackle Covid-19 mean they are set for another three weeks apart.

Evans is confident his players can maintain their fitness levels at home but knows football has to take a back-seat during the current pandemic.

He said: “We should be doing what the Prime Minister has asked the country to do. We are lucky with the job we do, but we are no different than any other man or woman in the street, we have to respect and honour those wishes.

“We all have to do our bit to try and eradicate this terrible disease as quickly as possible so we can lives.

“Our message to the players is to stay at home, work on your own, get out nice an early to get your (fitness) work done and to a man, one million per cent, I believe they are doing it.

“You will always get the odd one, it is like managing a little platoon of troops, one might think they can get away without doing as much but they will get found out when they come back.

“I say to them, ‘keep doing your work’ but over and above that, keep safe. If they are in an area and there are a lot of people about, turn back, go home.

“There are plenty of things they can do, you don’t even need a garden, it can be done in your house. Our fitness guy can link in and give a fitness programme in the front lounge.

“Physically they are in good shape and they are doing their work. We are sending them information on a daily basis and keeping in touch with them.

“We are the same as every other team. We might have another three or four weeks (away from training), but you don’t get fit by playing football, it is the other way around, you get fit to play football. All professional footballers should be in good shape when they go back."

Read more on the Gills here.