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Aston Villa will take part in a light training session on Christmas Day ahead of their must-win clash with West Ham.

Boss Remi Garde confirmed that his players will be in on Friday morning before spending the rest of the day with their families.

The claret and blues face an important run of games over the festive period and Garde wants them to be fired up after the big day at the end of this week.

“They will train in the morning and then stay with their families,” Garde said.

poll loading Who should choose Aston Villa's January signings? 1000+ VOTES SO FAR Remi Garde on his own The transfer committee collectively

“I’m okay for them to spend some Christmas time with family, you can find strength.

“Then the day after, they will come in and say “I had some lovely time now I want to win.”

Garde wants his team to build on the 1-1 draw at Newcastle last week and is trying to fill them with confidence this week.

The 49-year-old ex-Lyon boss still reckons the reason why they’re struggling is because they have forgot what it feels like to win so the sooner that changes the better.

“When you are low in confidence like we have been, it is difficult to take the game to teams (from the off).

“Where we are a situated, with nothing to lose, you forget you have no confidence, then play on.

“Starting from beginning we need more confidence, more sparks, a bit of luck and maybe if we can score first it will give us confidence.”