Oliver Dowden's department is leading discussions on how professional sport can restart should coronavirus lockdown restrictions be eased.

Weekly meetings from this week onwards are due to take place between medical officials from the major sports governing bodies and representatives of Public Health England.

It is understood the Premier League's medical adviser Mark Gillett and the Football Association's head of medicine Charlotte Cowie will be among those involved in the Government discussions.

Any resumption of sport could only happen if the government's five tests are fulfilled, covering such areas as NHS capacity, the availability of testing and PPE and a fall in the death and infection rates.

It is accepted that for the foreseeable future this would be about sporting events happening behind closed doors.

The Premier League's resumption is being kept under constant review, with the clubs set to gather for a shareholders' meeting on Friday.

Dowden said: "I personally have been in talks with the Premier League with a view to getting football up and running as soon as possible in order to support the whole football community.

"But, of course, any such moves would have to be consistent with public health guidance."

Other European leagues are working towards a restart.

The German Bundesliga is due to return next month, subject to clearance from the relevant authorities, with its clubs already back in training.

France's Ligue 1 is targeting a mid-June return with players set to begin returning to training on May 11, while in Italy the prime minister Giuseppe Conte said sports teams could resume group training from May 18.

Australian Associated Press