Supporting cast make a welcome comeback to the English game

For the first time in nine months, we will be seeing a limited number of fans at five of the English Premier League football stadiums this weekend.

With only 2,000 spectators allowed into a top-flight ground that holds 60,000, it is still going to feel pretty weird.

However, it is a small but significant step on the way back to normality, whatever that might be.

There has already been a smattering of mid-week games with spectators in the lower divisions.

On Wednesday night, League Two side Carlisle United became the first English club to host a game with fans since the coronavirus struck, and they treated 2,000 spectators at Brunton Park to a 2-1 win over Salford City.

On having the fans back, Carlisle manager Chris Beech commented: “It was just fantastic to hear them cheer for every tackle and you could see that it gave the lads an extra yard.”

Curiously, only…