Some Watford fans could see their side in the Championship playoffs at Wembley after the Government set out a road map for the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The Hornets have always maintained that automatic promotion is the aim for the current campaign, but with the side sitting in the playoff spots, they may be forced to fight it out for the final promotion spot.

Fans could be allowed back into sporting events in limited numbers from May 17 with all restrictions lifted by June 21.

The playoff finals are due to take place on the bank holiday weekend at the end of May.

Sports venues will be able to open their doors once the nation reaches step three of the recovery plan, no earlier than May 17 – a week after the current EFL season is due to conclude.

At that point, larger outdoor seated venues will be given a “special provision” to allow in up to 10,000 people.

For smaller outdoor venues, or those without seating, this would be capped at 4,000 people or 50 per cent of capacity, whichever is lower. For indoor venues the cap will be 1,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is lower.

The remainder of the EFL regular season, with the exception of any pilot events, will therefore remain behind closed doors but the league indicated its hope that both the Carabao Cup final on April 25 and the final round of regular season matches on May 8 and 9 could form part of the pilot programme.

In a statement, the EFL said it hoped “as many fans as possible” could attend the divisional play-off finals at the end of May.