Discussions relating to the return of Premier League football have been held in ‘constructive meetings’, according to the United Kingdom government’s foreign secretary, Dominic Raab.

The Premier League has been in hiatus for almost two months due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has impacted much of the world and brought professional sport to a standstill.

‘Project Restart’, as it has been dubbed, is being planned by the Premier League as decision-makers look to determine the best way to resume matches.

According to reports, numerous ideas are being considered, such as playing the remaining matches behind closed doors at neutral venues, while Professional Footballers’ Association chief Gordon Taylor has suggested matches could even be shortened.

Raab confirmed the government has already held talks with sporting bodies with regard to allowing athletes and players to resume training, and while he suggested discussions are going well, he stressed safety is the priority.

‘I think it would lift the spirit of the nation,’ Raab said in the government’s daily briefing on Tuesday. ‘I think people would like to see us get back not just to work and get to a stage where children can safely return to school but also enjoy pastimes, sporting in particular.

‘The government has had constructive meetings with sports bodies over plans for athletes to resume training when it’s safe to do so.

‘The culture secretary has also been working on a plan to get sports played behind closed doors when we move to the second phase.

‘We can only do it when the medical and scientific advice is that it can be done safely and sustainably, but that is certainly something under active consideration.’

Earlier on Tuesday, Britain’s health secretary, Matt Hancock, also responded to another question about the possibility of the Premier League’s return by saying that he is willing to see football and other elite sport return as long as proper measures to protect well-being are put in place.

He said: ‘Well, I’m absolutely open to that and horse racing, too, and I know that both the Premier League and racing are working on how that might be doable in a safe way.’

The UK has had almost 195,000 confirmed cases of the virus, while the death toll has reached 29,427 – the largest total in Europe.