London, May 25 (IANS): Former players Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp believe Premier League clubs will vote to begin contact training this week taking a cue from the German Bundesliga which is underway.

"It's a huge week," Redknapp told Sky Sports' The Football Show.

"With what's happened in Germany, I've got no doubt the vote will go ahead and the clubs will vote to try to get phase two going, which is obviously important.

"I also think there'll be a situation where more players will opt out, which is their prerogative, but with the success in Germany - it's not been great, it's not the product we really like, with no fans there, but at least it's football - I'll be very surprised if it doesn't go ahead."

Neville, who is a Sky Sports pundit,: "I think the clubs will unanimously vote to restart the season in the next few weeks."

"I think there will be a few more players who drop out," said Neville. "I don't think it helps that the Premier League are relying on government advice and we are all watching what's going on with the government at this moment in time.

"The Watford situation seems to have the most focus at this moment but Kante missing for Chelsea is an absolutely huge blow for them from a football point of view, but you completely understand it from a personal point of view."

Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante is among the players who are yet to resume socially distant group sessions as players have the option of not training if they don't feel comfortable.

Watford skipper Troy Deeney has also expressed his unwillingness to train in the current circumstances.

The clubs have been allowed to start small-group training from last Tuesday after the top flight football league in England was suspended on March 13 due to coronavirus outbreak.