Ross County manager Malky Mackay is relishing the opportunity for his squad to reset during the winter break.
The Staggies started the five-week shutdown following Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead.
On November 27, County will travel to Spain for a five-day training camp in Pinatar, near Alicante.
The Staggies intend to then face a fellow Premiership side in a bounce game, ahead of their competitive return to action at home to St Johnstone on December 17.
Mackay aims to make best use of the long spell without Premiership action.
He said: “It’s longer than the summer break was, which is incredible.
“It allows us to get some fitness work done, and also allows us to get a change of scenery.
“The climate in the north can get a bit tasty in November, so we will go away for some warm weather training for a week.
“We will also have a friendly game against a Premiership team when we come back, for us all to get going again.
“It has all been planned out, and the players also need time with their families.
“As of Saturday night, they were all away, with a week to enjoy a bit of sun on their backs with their families, which is important as well.”
Injured players have opportunity to recover
Prior to the World Cup shutdown, County were without a number of players due to injury.
Jack Baldwin, Ross Callachan, Connor Randall, Ben Purrington, Ben Paton and Alex Samuel have all been sidelined in recent weeks.
Mackay is hopeful of having increased numbers to pick from in a month’s time.
He added: “We have five guys in the squad that are long-term injury victims, who will all hopefully be ready for the St Johnstone game.
“The squad will be replenished back to where it was, which is really ideal.
“We didn’t fill the nine-man bench on Saturday, with two goalkeepers and a 16-year-old there. We really were struggling.
“I’m glad we get to the break now, because we get players back.”
Mackay encouraged ahead of return to action
County have shown improved form in recent weeks, with back-to-back wins against St Mirren and Hibernian moving them out of the relegation zone ahead of the winter break.
Mackay feels there is plenty for his side to build on come the restart, adding: “We had to rebuild again in the summer. We lost 12 players and we can’t do that every year.
“You cannot build a team every year.
“We lost 25 goals as well, so we knew it was going to be tough again in a Premiership that is probably even better than it was last year.
“With new players coming in from all over the globe, and trying to settle into a very intense league, it has taken time.
“Over the last four weeks we have been excellent and I can see real green shoots in terms of encouraging performances all over the place.
“The last four weeks have been the evidence of where we can kick on to.”
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