Gillingham won’t be training on Christmas Day.

Boss Steve Lovell feels he can trust his players enough to allow them to stay at home the day before they host Oxford United at Priestfield.

Lovell, whose side beat Fleetwood Town on Friday night, said: “We will train Christmas Eve and we will give them Christmas Day off.

“They all have families and I know what it was like. I used to come in Christmas Day and it spoils the day.

“They deserve it, they have had a great run and they have worked hard.

“We will work hard Christmas Eve and I know they will look after themselves. If I couldn’t trust them I would get them in Christmas Day but I trust them.

“We will come out Boxing Day raring to go, with a little turkey inside them and hopefully we will do the business against Oxford.”