City get Xmas off

Last updated : 24 December 2005 By Ben Collins

Some Premiership teams will be due in for training on Christmas morning - but not the Blues.

The City boss wants to give his players some time with their family ahead of the holiday programme.

"The players will be prepared as normal but they are not coming in on Christmas Day," said Pearce.

"That's my decision but they were consulted, all we'll do is change the video diary from the day before to the morning of the game. We've had plenty of time to do some work this week, that's for sure! I personally think that the change of routine might just freshen us up again.

"This period now is very similar to the start of the season," he added.

"You hope to go into it with everyone fully fit, and you keep your fingers crossed that form stays intact and that, injury-wise, everything goes well."