BURTON Albion players will enjoy Christmas Day at home with their families before taking on Aston Villa on Boxing Day.
Albion boss Nigel Clough has given the players December 25 off, knowing they will be fit and ready for the game on the 26th.
He said: “We give them the schedule a couple of weeks before Christmas and then they can plan time with their families. There is plenty of training time there and enough time to be with their families as well. We have been through it over the years where we have had them in on Christmas Day and had them off and it has had no bearing on the result.
“One thing we do know is that we trust our lads implicitly. They will have Christmas Day off but will have trained four out of the five days leading up to it which is enough.
“The younger players might need a bit of guidance on what to eat and drink over Christmas but the senior players we have no issues at all – they know how to look after themselves and be ready for Boxing Day.
“We don’t have a problem with fitness – that’s not one of our failings. I would say we are one of the hardest working and fittest sides in the Championship.”