Hull City manager Nigel Adkins has confirmed his players will not be training on Christmas Day ahead of their Boxing Day clash at Deepdale.
The Tigers chief, speaking to the Hull Daily Mail ahead of the festive fixture said that there was not a right or wrong way, as he chose to give his players the day at home.
“Over the years we’ve tried many different things,” Adkins said when asked about his plans for the big day. “The emotional side of it is important, I think. You do have family and time is a precious thing that you can give somebody. Time with family can be invaluable.
“The players knew they would be having Christmas day off in preparation for Preston. We’re not in the training ground, but it doesn’t mean they won’t prepare themselves because we have really good professionals at this football club.
“There was a lot of debate and organisation. Having the mental side of it right is an important thing, a bit of extra motivation to kick on and we can do it, it’s not as if we have to go overnight and stay in a hotel. We can be organised with the home recovery.
“With the staff we just sat down and came to the conclusion that that’s probably going to be the best thing and on the back of the that when you look at the run of form that we’ve been on, it’s that one extra little bit of motivation that helps people because we have a real good spirit.”
But despite that, he is still expecting his side to work hard and prepare right for the game, as he told the club's official website after their win over Swansea City on Saturday evening.
"We've got games coming thick and fast over the Christmas period. The whole squad is going to be utilised.
"I am expecting the players to work their socks off on Boxing Day, because we have a spirit, but we have a lot of prep to do between now and then and we have to get that right for the Preston game," he added.