CHERRIES skipper Simon Francis admitted his concern over returning to football amid the COVID-19 pandemic and added: “The prospect of bringing the virus home to my family isn't something I want to think about.”

The 35-year-old defender has not featured for Eddie Howe’s men since February, having missed their most recent Premier League game against Liverpool on March 7 through injury.

Top-flight clubs are set to meet tomorrow to discuss ways of finishing the campaign.

Francis told the Times: “My head's saying that I would love to see football restart, to play the remaining games and finish the season.

“My heart is saying we shouldn't be putting football, or economics, before anyone's health and safety.

"We have three or four players who have family members with underlying health issues. One player (Joshua King) is back in his home country with his partner, who just had a baby.

"Diego Rico is back in Spain with his family. Would they have to be quarantined when they returned? When would it be safe to see their families again?"

Francis added: "A friend's wife contracted the virus recently. She had no underlying health issues but was in a really bad way, bedridden for over a week.

"And that has really made me think. Footballers are healthy athletes, and the risks to us, statistically, are low, but the prospect of bringing the virus home to my family isn't something I want to think about."