Mark Robins has placed his entire squad on red alert for Huddersfield Town’s crunch festive fixture programme.
The John Smith’s Stadium side in-form host Derby on Boxing Day and Yeovil on Sunday before a tasty New Year’s Day derby at current Championship leaders Burnley.
The FA Cup third-round tie at Skrill Conference club Grimsby follows on Saturday, January 4.
And Robins, who will put his players through a Christmas Day training session, says it’s vital they are all ready for a call-up.
“The attitude has been great so far, and that has to continue throughout this important phase if the season,” said the boss, who hopes to have hip injury victim Jonathan Hogg back alongside Joel Lynch, who is now free from suspension.
“All footballers want to start matches, but only 11 can do that in any one game, and we have to manage the disappointed ones. But history shows that opportunities will arise, whether through injury, loss of form or suspensions for those in the side.
“Then the ones coming in have to be ready to take their chance, and that means working hard on a daily basis to be the best they possibly can be.”
Robins, whose side are 13th, is also keen to avoid any unnecessary bookings which could bring suspensions.
Tommy Smith, yellow carded during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Brighton, joined three others, Lynch, Adam Hammill and Ollie Norwood, on three for the season.
Five cautions before the December 31 cut-off, so taking in the Derby and Yeovil matches, means a one-game ban.
Adam Clayton has already served a suspension for five, and reaching 10 before the second Sunday in April brings a two-match ban.
“We don’t want players not to tackle, and sometimes cautions are hard to avoid, but we certainly don’t want them to be needless,” said the boss.
