Craig Fagan and his Gillingham team-mates get to spend Christmas Day at home this year – but they’ll still be thinking football.

It will be a novelty for Fagan, who has recovered from a thigh injury in time to help Gills through the busy festive period.

He’s set to play a part at Tranmere on Friday night and is looking forward to the Boxing Day clash against Leyton Orient at Priestfield.

The players will train on Christmas Eve but boss Peter Taylor intends to give them Christmas Day off.

Fagan said: “Christmas is a big thing for everyone in the country but it’s usually just a normal working day for us as footballers.

"Every other club I’ve been at you’re normally training. The afternoon you go back and see your family but you’re more thinking about the game next day.

“It’s a tough one with the amount of games over Christmas but it can be enjoyable if you’re playing at home on Boxing Day as you tend to get a big crowd and a lot of fans.”