Enjoy your break, I wish we had one

Welcome visit: William Gallas (left) and Jermaine Jenas lift the spirits of children at Barnet General Hospital this week
11 April 2012

Most people in the country are gearing up to have a great festive season but for me the excitement of the holiday ended when, as a 15-year-old, I had to clean football boots for Paul Hart on Christmas Day.

I was on the YTS scheme at Nottingham Forest and as head of the academy, I think he was giving me an early lesson of what life was going to be like.

I am already resigned to spending another Christmas morning with the gaffer at Spurs' training ground as we will be preparing for our game against Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

While everyone else is stocking up with nice food and chocolates, I have to stay with the healthy stuff. The only vice I allow myself is the Christmas dinner. It's times like this where I wish we had a winter break but we should have one anyway because it would help the national team.
When we go into these international tournaments our players just seem tired.

The season is very intense and it definitely tires you. You can see it in the players. It's not like they aren't trying so you have to ask what is wrong.

I know from experience that a little break can help. In previous years, I have sometimes gone away for a week with my club for warm-weather training after being knocked out of the FA Cup and you do come back revitalised. I'm not saying everything will be solved if we have one but all the other countries are doing it and it must give them a boost.

Mind you, all this was put into perspective when I went to Barnet General Hospital on Wednesday to visit the sick children who will be spending their Christmas there.

It is something footballers usually do at this time of year and I was joined by my Tottenham team-mates William Gallas and Niko Kranjcar. We handed out some presents and it was pretty moving.

Since I became a father three years ago it has become even more important to me and it was great to help brighten up the place.

Finally the transfer window opens two weeks tomorrow and already there is a lot of talk over what will be happening at Tottenham. We always seem to be linked with somebody. I am very happy so I don't expect any stories about me! I'm playing a lot and am loving the Champions League.

Speaking of which, I did this column before the draw for the last 16 was made but make no mistake we would have all been round the TV watching it at the training ground.

I have a niggling calf injury right now and want to make sure I am 100 per cent fit when the competition starts again
in February.

Jermaine Jenas appears courtesy of New Era Global Sports Management

You can follow Jermaine on twitter @jjenas

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