BOURNEMOUTH boss Jason Tindall is waiting on the impact of increased testing in the EFL.

The Cherries head to Boundary Park on Saturday in the FA Cup third round at the end of a week that has seen the league and Football Association both step up their Covid protocols.

The EFL has tightened its coronavirus checks with players having only previously been tested when displaying symptoms.

With postponements increasing even prior to the move, there is expected to be an impact on player availability and fixtures going ahead as planned.

The FA have also decreed that all clubs, including those in non-league, should be checked ahead of the third round taking place this weekend.

The governing body have said they want games to go ahead if clubs have 14 available players, Derby’s tie with National League North Chorley already in doubt after an outbreak at Wayne Rooney’s Rams.

Bournemouth also experienced the Premier League rules last year and ahead of facing Latics, Tindall told the Bournemouth Daily Echo: “The Premier League is a lot more strict in terms of you being tested twice per week.

“I think when you are being tested twice a week you know where you are straight away. You are on top of things.

“The EFL and the Championship has been a lot less in the sense of testing, where we are not being tested regularly.

“I know we have got testing at the end of this week right the way through the EFL and it will be interesting to see what comes back from that.

“There is certainly a big difference in Premier League and EFL, for sure.”

With disruption likely in the coming weeks, Tindall looked at the bigger picture with the country having placed in a third national lockdown by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday night.

“I think there is a concern all around the world at the minute, certainly in this country,” said the 43-year-old, Eddie Howe’s assistant before stepping up to the top job in the summer.

“Hence why the restrictions have been put in place and the tiering system is the way it is – because of the spread of the virus.

“It’s something that has got a little bit out of control. I think should we be worried in general? There is a concern.

“In terms of the EFL and how it is, there’s obviously the reasons as to why the testing isn’t as strict as what it is in the Premier League and I imagine that’s financial.

“Is that right or is that wrong? It’s a difficult one for me to sit here and say because I don’t know the ins and outs of why that’s the case.

“But it is what it is, we can only do the best we can and abide by all the rules. I think if we do that then we are doing the right thing.”