Town boss Mick McCarthy says he and his players have no problem with training on Christmas Day, believing it's something which is part of the job of being a professional footballer.

Asked about the Christmas training schedule McCarthy said: “The usual, we’re off [today]. Having worked all week they get a rest day and they will hopefully put their legs up and not be out Christmas shopping with their wives. And then we’re in on Saturday and Sunday as usual.

“It doesn’t bother me at all and I don’t think it bothers the lads, they fully expect to have to do it.

“I think the danger if you give them Christmas Day off is that it [should be] just like a normal Friday [ahead of] playing on Saturday, and if they don’t come in and they don’t train it’s just not normal. You wouldn’t do that on a normal Friday so they have to come in.”

He says training on Christmas Day isn’t particularly taxing and admits he used to enjoy it back in his day as a player.

“We don’t do a lot, but it really is getting them up out of their beds and probably getting them away from putting Action Man and Sindy stuff together, if they’ve still got Action Man and Sindy like in my day.

“I used to apologise to my girls and son Michael, ‘Sorry, I’ve got go’ and I couldn’t wait to get out of the house. I was driving down to the training ground thinking ‘Yee-ha, going to play football!’. It was great.”

Photo: TWTD

SheptonMalletBlue added 07:59 - Dec 23 “We don't do a lot" Sums it up really!!!! McCarthy Out!!!!
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Radlett_blue added 08:52 - Dec 23 Why would walking round the shops doing some shopping on a rest day be a problem? Surely, a gentle stroll would be better for a player's health than lounging on a sofa all day?
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richnblue added 09:34 - Dec 23 About sums up a normal training day at ITFC... We don't do a lot, but it really is getting them up out of their beds and playing FIFA 17... And this comment does do nothing for our esteem leader... I couldn't wait to get out of the house. I was driving down to the training ground thinking ‘Yee-ha, going to play football!'. It was great.” Just a normal working day...!!!

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vanmunt added 10:34 - Dec 23 Boo bl**dy hoo, aww poor didums.. try working at my place this week 4 straight days of 13 hours.
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sotd78 added 14:09 - Dec 23 This is a nothing story that does not need the negatives. We recognise that some posters on here have an agenda about MM but not all Town fans are tarred with the same narrow mindset. The man has his faults but perhaps as we have established is trying to make do with what he's been given. Lots of businesses (mine included) make do and mend. Were a mid table second tier football club; doing exactly what is expected of us. We all hope for more but we are realists.

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jeera added 17:07 - Dec 23 For Christ's sake, what's wrong with some of you? "Asked about the Christmas training schedule McCarthy said.." He's answered a question. The bloke can't speak without some of you crying.
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armchaircritic59 added 17:21 - Dec 24 sotd78. I think the definition of a realist is "a failed optomist". Not meant as a dig. I hope everyone on here regardless of which side of the MM divide you're on, has a great Christmas.
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NSL added 22:00 - Dec 24 Making people work on Christmas Day distrous morale end of. What difference does a day make? This guy is a poor poor poor poor man manager. Get out
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