School's in for Christmas! Why Doncaster Rovers are heading to the classroom during the festive period

With time between matches limited over the festive period, Moore confesses there will be little opportunity for tactical work on the training ground as he focuses on recovery first and foremost to ensure players are ready for the next fixture.

Instead, the players will be called into the classroom to be lectured on what they need to know about the opposition and how they must approach each game, with Darren Moore and his staff pulling out their lesson plans.

“The games come quickfire really and it’s all about turning the squad around and getting them ready again,” the Rovers boss said.

“A lot of the tactical stuff, you’re training stuff will be done in the classroom because you want to keep the energy in the players’ legs.

“But as it is for us, it’s the same for everybody over the Christmas period.

“What we’re trying to do is maybe recover a couple of bodies off the treatment table so we go in with more numbers.”

Every teacher has concerns over pupil behaviour, but Moore insists he is fully confident his players will not lack the focus required in class to take in his messages.

Instead, he says the bigger worry is over the learning styles of each player and whether they will be receptive to the ‘tell don’t show’ approach which circumstances will force upon them.

“Focus is not a problem,” Moore said.

“Sometimes it’s just about the learning, because some people are visual, some like to do it practical. That is the only thing you get.

“On the practical side, you have an emphasis of not doing too much and leaving it all on the training ground because you want it all done on a matchday.

“They’re going to have to tune in more so on the visual side because that certainly will be one tool I’m using to try to reignite the end of this year and for the start of the new one.”

From December 26 to January 1 Rovers will face Peterborough United, Sunderland and Oxford United.