Wilfried Zaha has joined the effort to support the NHS in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic by offering free accommodation to health workers.

The Crystal Palace winger encouraged NHS staff to reach out to his ZoProperties firm after co-owner Obi Williams tweeted to say the pair would be willing to provide housing for doctors and medical staff battling the disease on the front line.

The company, which Zaha and Williams have been running together for three years, is offering more than 50 apartments, ranging from one-bed to three-bed, in locations across London free of charge.

Williams told Standard Sport: "I've seen things on the news, I have friends who have family members who work in the NHS and my son was born in an NHS hospital and they were just amazing.

“If there is anything we can do to help obviously we would do it. Now it is time to stand up for everybody, anyone who can help it is time to stand up.

"Anyone who has empty rooms at all in London, they need to do something. They can't just leave their rooms empty whilst people are in huge predicaments as the whole country is right now.

"If you have any kind of accommodation available and empty for whatever reason, everyone should put their rooms up for key workers at this moment."

Zaha is the latest member of the football community to offer its support. On Wednesday, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich granted full use of Stamford Bridge’s Millennium Hotel to NHS staff free of charge, while former Manchester United man Gary Neville made a similar gesture with two hotels he co-owns in the northern city.

United forward Marcus Rashford is leading a campaign to ensure all children who usually receive free lunches are still fed when their schools close today.

The suspension on football in England was extended to at least April 30 on Thursday, but the FA raised hopes that the existing Premier League season may yet be completed by scrapping its rule that all domestic football must finish by June 1.