NEWPORT County AFC manager Justin Edinburgh can’t imagine Christmas without football and he’s trusting his players not to overindulge ahead of the Boxing Day clash with Plymouth Argyle, writes Andrew Penman.

The County players will train today but spend Christmas Day at home with their families and Edinburgh has faith that every member of the squad will be raring to go on Friday.

A bumper crowd is expected at Rodney Parade with more than 1,000 Argyle fans making the trip and Edinburgh can’t wait for the clash against the Exiles’ fellow League Two play-off contenders.

“I like the festive period,” said the former Spurs star. “It’s something that I’ve got used to since I left school at 16 and it’s all I’ve known.

“As a player and a manager you look forward to it. The crowds are bigger, the excitement is bigger and the games come thick and fast.

“If it’s not going your way you’ve always got another game to put thing right and if you win you’re not waiting too long for the next one.

“I think everyone connected with the club looks forward to this time of year.

“It is two confident teams on Boxing Day and I’m sure it will be a great crowd and a great atmosphere.

“I can see the case for a winter break but hopefully it will continue because it’s fascinating, it’s entertaining and it does throw up some strange results.”

Edinburgh says it could be counter-productive to deny players time with their loved ones tomorrow.

“It’s something I’ve always done as a manager,” he said. “If you haven’t got trust in your group of players to give them the responsibility to conduct themselves properly for one day then they shouldn’t be at the football club.

“I have a trust that they’ll take themselves out after spending time with their family and go and stretch their legs and report ready to go on Boxing Day.

“Maybe 30 or 40 years ago players might have needed to come in but a lot of these guys have got children and it’s a special time and I trust that they’ll look after themselves.”