THERE will be limited crowds at four Sky Bet League One fixtures this weekend.

The EFL yesterday asked clubs to volunteer to be a part of the pilot scheme, which will see grounds host an attendance of 1,000.

It is the first step to slowly bringing crowds back to professional football in England, which has been played behind closed doors since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

United did not put their game with Sunderland on Saturday forward due to the lack of time given to prepare, instead requesting for the clash with Crewe on October 3 to be used.

But matches at the Valley, Bloomfield Road, the New Meadow and KC Stadium will welcome back fans on Saturday.

It follows a pilot event at Cambridge United last week.

EFL Chair, Rick Parry said: “The health and well-being of supporters and their wider communities remains the priority, but as we showed at Cambridge, social distancing can be applied safely.

"By extending across more EFL clubs we hope to further demonstrate that the measures developed can allow fans to return in greater numbers from as early as next month.

"The requirement to welcome spectators back through turnstiles has not diminished in any way, the financial challenges facing EFL clubs have been explained on numerous occasions, they are substantial and a problem that requires immediate solutions."

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden said: "I know that many fans are eager to return to football and that jobs depend on this too, so fans will welcome news that the EFL will be running number capped, covid secure, and socially distanced pilots this weekend.

"This will help us build the evidence base to see how we can return fans safely in greater numbers as soon as it is safe to do so."

Fixtures selected for test events this weekend:

Championship 

  • Norwich City v Preston North End  
  • Middlesbrough v AFC Bournemouth  

League One

  • Charlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers  
  • Blackpool v Swindon Town  
  • Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town  
  • Hull City v Crewe Alexandra  

League Two

  • Forest Green Rovers v Bradford City  
  • Carlisle United v Southend United  
  • Morecambe v Cambridge United