Martin worries for his players' mental health during lockdown

The importance of mental health is at the forefront of Russell Martin's mind, not just during the current coronavirus lockdown.

With his players scattered around Milton Keynes and indeed the rest of the country at the moment, the manager says keeping in touch with everyone is key.

But not just during lockdown, Martin says mental health is one of his biggest concerns when it comes to his players.

"For me, it's the most important part of the game, even before all of this," he said. "In any walk of life, people can suffer from mental health issues, and for me, it is so important to make sure people are coping with the pressures in their lives, whether they are top of the league, midtable or down at the bottom."

Having not been together as a team for over a month since football was postponed on March 13, Martin says he is in regular contact with his players, but knows there is a balance between maintaining contact and becoming overbearing.

He said: "We speak to them regularly. We try and have a weekly Zoom meeting, so we can all see each other's faces, and check in on each other. We've got WhatsApp groups with the players, one for the staff, and of course the players have their own little groups too.

"We give them books to read, analysis of their own performances to go over, but there's a balance we have to keep between being too overbearing with them, but not just leaving them totally alone too.

"We've had had people come and chat with us too about mental health too.

"We've got players who are living on their own, living with their partners, kids, team-mates, or back with their parents so they aren't on their own. It's a really difficult time for everyone, and the players are no different in the respect that everyone is in the same boat."