MATTY Etherington says Colchester United's players will be reporting for duty on Christmas morning in order to be ready for their Boxing Day clash with MK Dons.

The U's squad will train at Florence Park tomorrow, ahead of their trip to Stadium MK (kick-off 3pm).

Colchester have a busy festive schedule, with their game against MK Dons followed by a visit to Johnnie Jackson's AFC Wimbledon on Friday night and then a home game against Gillingham, on New Year's Day.

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It is an important time for the U's, as they bid to build on their 2-1 victory over Salford City on Friday night which lifted them seven points above the League Two relegation zone and ended a five-game losing run.

Etherington said: “We’ll be in on Christmas Day.

“It’s the day before the game and the players are fully aware that we’re in and we’ll be preparing fully in the morning for the game against MK Dons and then going back to our families.

Gazette:

“It’s part of the job; I remember when I was a player under Tony Pulis we’d be staying in a hotel on Christmas evening because he didn’t trust us to eat or drink the right stuff on Christmas Day and you’re talking about Premier League players there – he was very paranoid!

“I’ve been there and done it in terms of working on Christmas Day.

“I’ve got no issue with it and I think it’s the right way to prepare the team for what is an important game against MK Dons, on Boxing Day.

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“We’ve got a quick turnaround before MK Dons and then Wimbledon and we’ll be training between then as well.

“They’ll get their rest when we feel it’s right but we need everyone together and the games come thick and fast during this period and the players need to be ready."