The Professional Footballers' Union has announced it will fund weekly checks to help EFL clubs to comply with Covid-19 protocols.

The players' union are to provide what is understood to be substantial funding to pay for experts from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to visit training grounds and stadiums.

It is not believed extra testing for players and staff will be included in the measures but the PFA's offer has been welcomed by the EFL.

The League's chief executive David Baldwin said: “To ensure the continued safeguarding of players and club staff, we are looking to introduce visits to help support clubs in assessing compliance with their own operational plans and risk assessments.

“The funding from the PFA will allow us to not only highlight the positive aspects of the protocols, but also to pick up on any areas of improvement to continue the fulfilment of fixtures in the 2020/21 season.”

A number of recent games in the EFL in recent weeks have had to be postponed as a result of coronavirus infections among squads.

The support from the PFA is likely to be welcomed by clubs who are already counting the severe cost of staging games without fans for several months.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “The PFA has committed to pay for audits for the remainder of the season and will work closely with the EFL to ensure that clubs can continue to fulfil their fixtures.

“From the outset of the COVID outbreak, the concerns for the welfare and safety of players and all club staff has remained the PFA’s top priority.”

A selection of clubs will be visited each week for the remainder of the 2020-21 season, a statement said.

United's co-owner and EFL board member John Nixon recently said he would "encourage" the players' union to "help" clubs in this respect.