Neil Critchley yet to decide if Blackpool players will get Christmas Day off as Seasiders arrange midweek bounce game

The Seasiders were due to make the trip to the North East on Tuesday evening to face Sunderland, only for that game to be postponed last week following a Covid-19 outbreak at the Stadium of Light.

Instead, that gives Pool a mini-break this week ahead of Saturday’s Boxing Day clash against Rochdale at Bloomfield Road.

In normal circumstances, Blackpool’s players would train the day before a game but with Christmas falling on a Friday, Critchley now has a decision to make.

“We haven’t made that decision yet, we’re considering it,” Pool’s head coach told The Gazette.

“We spoke about it as a staff on Friday but with the Sunderland game being off we’ve organised another game (on Wednesday) for some of the players that haven’t played because we need them to be fit and ready to go.

“The players will get a little bit of rest but it’s important we keep that momentum and to do that you have to train.”