OPTIMISTIC Morton boss Dougie Imrie hopes that by giving his players some time off over Christmas that they can attack their final game of the year tomorrow then head into 2024 in full flight.

Imrie revealed that his squad were given a break from training during the festive period, with festive fixtures coming thick and fast.

As his side now gear up for what looks to be a rather blustery journey up to Inverness, the manager is targeting a positive result to finish December unbeaten.

He told the Tele: “It’s good to be back in and around the place after a bit of time off over the Christmas period. We gave the boys a bit extra, so they could spend a bit of time with their families.

“To get that bit of time off over Christmas is quite rare for a footballer, so hopefully it has given some of the boys a chance to switch off and recharge the batteries after what’s been a tough couple of weeks and they will be ready to go again.

“It’s been well deserved after all the work that they’ve put in over the last few weeks, but we’re back now and working hard to prepare for the two tough games we’ve got coming up away to Inverness and then at home to Ayr.

“Inverness is a difficult place to go to at the best of times and they’ve done well under Duncan Ferguson and his staff.

“It’s never easy going up there but we’ve had quite a good record against them in my time here so far, so hopefully that can continue.

“We’ve got another three game week coming up where they’re not really going to be getting much rest, so it was important to try and give them days off when we can.

“I just hope it’s done them the world of good heading into a big January for us.”

Imrie was pleased his players did not have a Boxing Day fixture to contend with this year.

He said: “In my time at Hamilton I remember training on Christmas Day - you’d be in during the morning or a bit later because you had a game on Boxing Day.

“But it’s always good to spend time with family. Players don’t normally get to do that so much around this time of year, with the amount of games that there are.

“The boys have looked good since they came back in earlier this week so let's hope we can finish this year on a high and start 2024 with some real momentum.”