MANCHESTER United legend and Salford City co-owner Gary Neville has urged the EFL to only postpone games “in exceptional circumstances”.

Only nine of 33 scheduled EFL fixtures went ahead on Boxing Day as Covid outbreaks continue to cause disruption across the league.

Wanderers’ last three fixtures have been called off following a Covid outbreak at the club, with 14 players and four members of staff testing positive.

According to EFL rules, clubs are expected to play if they have 14 players available including a goalkeeper.

But Neville insists that some of the postponements in recent weeks have been unnecessary and says clubs need to “get on with it”.

"The PL and EFL (in particular) have got to stop these cancellations unless in exceptional circumstances.

“Each club has 40-50 players including youth team as a minimum. If it’s the Carabao Cup or EFL Trophy they find a team without fielding the first 11. Get on with it,” the former England international wrote on his Twitter page.

“(There is) no way these clubs can’t get a team out. We’ve seen in the PL when teams requests are rejected, they end up playing near on full strength line-ups.

"Time for clubs to get on with it and trust their young players unless in exceptional circumstances,” he added.

Wanderers are scheduled to face league leaders Rotherham at the New York Stadium on New Year’s Day (KO 3pm).

The Millers sit at the top of the League One table, having won 14 of their opening 23 matches back in the third tier.

However, Paul Warne’s men suffered a 1-0 loss at Accrington Stanley in their last outing – their first defeat since September.

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