Boxing Day ambition to be achieved

because I was always very interested in them.

“For me it’s a dream to play in these games – my little brother is coming over to support me and we will celebrate a little bit, but not too much.”

As effervescent as ever, the 26-year-old went on to describe a Germanic Christmas which features presents opened on Christmas Eve, attending church and eating bratwurst sausages with the family.

“Normally I go home to my family – this is the first year that little Michael doesn’t go home to see his family and to his mother,” he laughs.

“But it’s a different experience, though, and I just want to get three points on Boxing Day and have success here and that everyone has a healthy, Merry Christmas.”

Town fans will have vocal competition from just over 1,300 Nottingham Forest fans.

Forest – 17th in the table and without a win in three matches following three previous wins on the trot – have sold 1,312 tickets so far. Town will be backed by around 21,000 home supporters. Town went past 20,000 sales on Thursday and sales were still strong in all areas, with a highest crowd of the season on the cards. Fans can still buy on line or from the ticket office, which is open from 9am until noon today and from 10am on Boxing Day. People are advised to get in early, however, as the majority of seats remaining are in the Fantastic Media Stand lower tier. I have always wanted to play on Boxing Day, so this year little Michael won’t go home to his family and mother