Reading boss Paul Ince believes the Championship should have a winter break every year, such as the one they are currently enjoying during the World Cup.

The first time such a break has been put it, this is because the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is being hosted across November and December.

Championship clubs return on December 10, following the culmination of the Last 16 of the World Cup.

The Royals, currently enjoying a week-long training camp in Tenerife, have taken the time to put the players through double sessions and recover some of the extensive injury list.

Speaking via Zoom from the Spanish island, Ince is a keen advocate of an annual  winter break.

During his illustrative playing career, the former England captain spent two years in Italy playing for former European champions Inter.

On the continent, in countries such as Italy and Germany, play stops over the Christmas period.

"I played in Italy, and we used to get two or three weeks off and it was great to get back to England and see family, recharge the batteries," he said of his time with Inter Milan. "Then, when you do get back to the training ground, you’re ready to go. When you’re on that break, you’re kind of lost because you don’t know what to do because normally, you’re training every day with your mates. After two weeks I just want to get back to the lads, the banter and playing games.

Reading Chronicle:

"It re-invigorated you to get back to work. We don’t have that; everything seems a slog. I understand Christmas and Boxing Day is for the fans, when we get the biggest crowds and financially it’s great, but the players are human beings, and they can’t keep doing what they’re doing.

"I know we’re talking about the 2022/23 season; I was at Inter in 1996 and we were doing it then, years down the line and we still haven’t done it. They’re looking at it next year, hopefully it goes well."