Lockdown offers Buxton chance to solve injury woes - Hayward

It may seem as if the four week break has come at the wrong time for the Bucks, who stretched their undefeated run to six matches following Tuesday's 3-1 success over Stafford Rangers.

However, with injuries in the camp, Hayward hopes his walking wounded will have time to recover ahead of what now looks like a heavy fixture schedule.

"It does feel like a bad time, but then again we got another injury (Tuesday) night, Matt Kilgallon pulled up with his hamstring," the Bucks boss said.

"Broges (Stephen Brogan) is still out with a hamstring, Matt Curley has medial ligament (damage).

"Killer (Shane Killock) has done his calf, so it's all defenders getting injured.

"It is a bit disappointing (to pause the season) but it'll be a chance to get everyone back and fighting fit for when we do start again."

While some squad members look to overcome injuries, Hayward wants the rest of his squad to return in top shape... and he'll be checking up on them.

"We're going to take the pods out and we're going to have to do two runs a week and monitor them," he said.

"We'll give them sprinting drills to keep them up to speed, we have to make sure we're fit.

"I think, if we go straight back in at the deep end on December 5 then it's going to be hard for all sides, not just us. I think all of them will struggle.

"Our lads are naturally fit anyway, and I'd class them as one of the fittest in the league. But we need to make sure we're ready."

This week the Government and Football Association both confirmed that all non-elite football will stop for lockdown, which begins today and will run until December 2 at the earliest.

All football from step 3 (including the Northern Premier League) and below is classed as non-elite in the men’s game.

In women’s football the top two tiers are the only elite divisions.

“I bitterly regret we have to curtail for 28 days football clubs and sports events in the way that we are,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Parliament.