Kev and the boys to be fighting fit on return

The United boss has been staggered by his players' appetite for topping up their fitness levels during the current interruption.

Even Kevin Kelbie, in his native Scotland, has found an unusual way of keeping in tip-top condition while he awaits the chance to take to a football pitch again.

“Stirling Albion have an indoor facility at their ground so Kevin has been able to train there and he has also been supplementing his fitness with a kick-boxing course!” Walker told Times Sport.

“I don't believe the loss of fixtures will have as big a detrimental effect for us as it may do for other clubs. We have been training as hard as we did before and we have been doing a lot of gym work.

“Our young players are naturally fit – one thing we do not lack is fitness.

“If you look at the likes of Lee Colligan, Michael Smith, Aaron Stewart, Mark Surgenor...they are naturally athletic to begin with.

“Then you have other players who are extremely dedicated to their own personal fitness. Albert Watson, in particular, is a copious trainer, to the extent that we sometimes have to tell him to ease off and not overdo it.

“If you had a squad of older players, you would maybe have to motivate them in a situation like this.

“Not these guys. If I told them we're training five nights this week, they would be there every night because they understand the need for them to take responsibility for their own fitness.

“On Saturday past, the reserves and first team fringe players trained at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre and as well as keeping up their fitness, it's good for team spirit because the Reserves have been as badly affected as the first team,” added Roy.