Stuart McCall is mulling over whether to hand his City players a surprise bonus of Christmas Day off.

McCall's training schedule, which he mapped out earlier in the month, has the squad in for a session that day to prepare for the Lincoln home clash the following afternoon.

But the Bantams boss is ready to reconsider - if they get far enough ahead with their practice plans between now and then.

McCall said: "It depends on what we can get done after the Peterborough game this weekend. We're training as normal on Monday and if we can get rightly prepared for Lincoln then maybe we don't need to come in again.

"But obviously it depends on the state of the pitches, weather conditions and whether we pick up any injuries and need a head count. If we can't get organised and do the work we need to then they will have to be in.

"We did the timetable a while ago and at the moment we're down to be in Christmas Day but I won't just bring everyone in for the sake of it.

"It's not like new year where you'd definitely be in because people might like to have a drink otherwise. Christmas Day is a family time.

"We've got a few travellers with the lads from Sheffield; Daz Williams coming from the north-east and Peter Thorne from Manchester. So there are several things to consider."

Colin Todd allowed the players free time at home on Christmas Day during his spell in charge but City failed to win any of his three Boxing Day fixtures.

They were beaten 1-0 at home by Doncaster last year - and have not won on Boxing Day since beating Stoke 4-2 in 2002.

McCall added: "I've done it various ways over Christmas throughout my career; morning sessions, afternoon ones and I even remember once at Everton reporting to the club at 5pm before a home game the next day and then staying in a hotel Christmas night.

"There was another occasion when we took heart monitors home and did it by yourself on Christmas Day. But latterly at Sheffield, we haven't been in at all."

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