IAN LADYMAN: Football is back but what have we missed and who’s got the most to prove?

The Premier League will return on Wednesday night after a coronavirus-enforced three-month absence.

Aston Villa‘s clash with Sheffield United will trigger the top-flight’s long-awaited restart and Manchester City also face Arsenal behind closed doors.

Here, Sportsmail‘s Football Editor, Ian Ladyman, takes a look at the key points.

The Premier League returns on Wednesday after a coronavirus-enforced three-month absence

What have I missed?

The simple rhythm of football. On the television as much as live action.

The spread of live Premier League games, in particular over a Saturday and Sunday, has become engrained deep into the consciousness over the years. Almost without realising, it has become the background noise to our weekend and I am not ashamed to say I have missed it.

Our broadcast media have been inventive during the lockdown and I have been reacquainted with classic football footage I had almost forgotten about. But enough, now. It’s time to come downstairs at midday on a Saturday and find Mo Salah in the corner of the living room again.

Fans may have missed the simple rhythm of football, on the television as much as live action

What haven’t I missed?

Football on a Friday night. It should not be a ‘thing’. Friday nights are for the pub, the restaurant or the sofa with the family.

The Premier League needs to realise it’s OK to have a night off.

What needs to happen?

A good couple of early games would help and for that to happen Arsenal will have to turn up at Manchester City on Wednesday night with a bit of attitude. Yes, I know what you are thinking. But you never know…

Arsenal will have to turn up at Manchester City on Wednesday night with a bit of attitude

Who can make a mark?

The season’s interruption has given key players time to recover fitness.

John McGinn will be important for Aston Villa, while 22-year-old Welshman David Brooks can offer Bournemouth similar guile.

But it is the managers who will earn their money over the coming weeks.

Nobody would begrudge Brendan Rodgers a Champions League place with Leicester, while Chris Wilder and Nuno Espirito Santo will not take a step back as Sheffield United and Wolves look to embarrass bigger clubs. That would be good for our game.

However, the man with most to gain this summer is Nigel Pearson.

Watford looked doomed when he took over in December, but his work to give the club a chance of survival has been exceptional. It would be no surprise to me if he keeps Watford up.

Nigel Pearson is the manager with the most to gain after giving Watford a chance of survival

Who is beyond help?

There is no way back for Norwich, who have been destined to go down ever since they thought it wise to spend 90 minutes with their full backs in the opposition half on matchday one at Liverpool. They lost 4-1 and things haven’t looked up.

Likewise, Paul Pogba at Manchester United. The midfielder is fit again but will he be mentally tuned in to his team’s push for fourth? Unlikely.

At Tottenham, Jose Mourinho has the return of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min to bolster his attempts to reach the top four, but Spurs hadn’t won for six games before the music stopped in March, and unless they beat United at home on Friday night, Mourinho’s season may well be done.

He looks more and more like yesterday’s coach.

Jose Mourinho welcomes back key stars in Spurs’ top four hunt but may be yesterday’s coach

Who has most to prove?

For once, it’s a collective thing. The Premier League is usually dominated by big names and personalities but this is about the game as a whole.

The football authorities, Government and to a large extent the country have given our national sport considerable licence to get itself going again.

Project Restart could have fallen at one of many hurdles and there will be other sports and other industries that will wish they could have been indulged in the same way.

So over the coming weeks, football has to show just what all the fuss has been about. It has to show it’s worth it. So let’s not merely play, but play – and behave – well.

Football must show just what all the fuss has been about, and its worth, over the coming weeks

Will we love football just as much?

Yes, I think we will. I’m not concerned about the TV spectacle being spoiled by the absence of spectators.

I feel for the paying customers who have been shut out, but that should not affect the quality we see on our screens. We watch sport for the excellence of those who play, not for what is happening in Row N of the Main Stand. TV’s broadcasting of football is so very good these days and I expect it to shine once more.

Will football have changed?

I hope not. The game is not perfect but we should not wish it to be.

There are those inside and outside the game who think the pandemic will have brought a different perspective. But why would we want that?

Football is important to us and we should not be ashamed of that.

Football is important to us and we should not be ashamed – we should not wish it to be perfect

What next?

Getting fans back in stadiums as soon as possible should be a priority. We will not have full houses any time soon but ways of accommodating a certain percentage should be explored.

Shopping centres are open, cinemas will not be far behind and nor will bars and restaurants. Paying customers should be at the top of football’s tick list as we look beyond this season and the start of the next one.

Five key players?

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd), John McGinn (Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Ben Foster (Watford) and David Brooks (Bournemouth).

Bruno Fernandes will be among the league’s key players in Manchester United’s top four chase

So, what will happen?

Top five: Liverpool, Manchester City, Leicester, Chelsea, Man Utd.

Bottom three: Norwich, Aston Villa, Brighton.

FA Cup: Manchester City.