MICHAEL Gray will happily let the turkey and roast potatoes go cold on Christmas Day.

The Blackburn Rovers left back knows there's no greater incentive for resisting the traditional festive feast than making sure you keep your place in the side.

Given that Gray spent almost a year in the first team wilderness he's not about to blow his revival by over-indulging - especially with four games in eight days on the horizon.

"The games are coming up so quick and does take a lot out of your body," said Gray.

"That's why we have the fitness people and the dieticians at the club, they all do their part over the Christmas period.

"We'll be cutting down on the turkey and the stuffing over Christmas and maybe our Christmas dinners will be chicken and pasta.

"But we've just got to make sure we prepare ourselves right for every single game and that's why we've got squads.

"I'm sure the manager will be making a couple of changes in those four games so whoever comes into the side will be ready and raring to go and that might be their chance for a good run in the side.

"So now I've got my chance to play in the first team I've got to show a bit of steel to try and stay there."

With competition for places all over the park, it's no wonder Gray is determined to work his hardest to keep the left back slot he has made his own over the past three months.

It's such a positive attitude that enabled the 31-year-old to prove he could still cut it at the top level despite being frozen out of the picture

"Nobody likes sitting in the stands watching football matches, especially when you're fit," said Gray.

"Throughout my career I've played a lot of games and when you find yourself sat in the stands for a couple of months not doing anything it gets frustrating.

"I didn't know where I was going and that's why I went to see the manager a few times to find out what the situation was.

"But I was always the type of character who came in with a smile on my face and just waited for my opportunity.

"I wanted it to work here because when you have that kind of morale around the place and nice people around you it's always nice to be involved and a part of that."

One tradition Gray hopes to maintain over the holiday period, however, is seeing family, which is made much easier with the Boxing Day trip to his native north east to take on Middlesbrough.

"I've got a lot of friends and family wanting to come down for the games so it's nice for them not having to travel a few hundred miles everywhere," said Gray, who hails from Sunderland.

"It's pleasing for them but hopefully I can make it into a nice Boxing Day for them too."