CHERRIES will be training on Christmas Day, with head coach Andoni Iraola stressing his charges cannot afford to stop.

Christmas Day is sandwiched between two Cherries fixtures this term, the trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, December 23, preceding the Boxing Day clash with Fulham at Vitality Stadium on Tuesday, December 26.

With just two days in between games, Cherries will be using the time as productively as they can, even if that means curtailing Christmas celebrations.

Asked if he would have the team in for training on Christmas Day, Iraola replied: “We have to train because there are a lot of games - we cannot stop.

“We will have a small break after in January.

“But now it's a moment to focus and keep pushing, and think that we have important games ahead, that we need the points.

“Obviously they will be home with their families, but they have to know that we have to keep training and we have to keep playing games.

“It will be for Fulham, and for sure it will be for us.”

After facing Forest and Fulham, Cherries round off 2023 with a trip to the capital, as Iraola’s charges away at Tottenham Hotspur on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31.

Asked if Saturday's dramatic 3-2 win at Forest had made Iraola reconsider training plans, Ryan Christie told the Daily Echo: "No, no it’s Christmas Day still.

"The turkey will have to wait, sadly!"