West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes the short winter break in Dubai will prove vital to his team's fortunes in the Premier League season run-in.
The current campaign has been up-and-down for the Hammers and Allardyce, with the club spending December and January precariously situated in the relegation zone.
However, an impressive run of three straight victories has boosted West Ham up to 11th in the Premier League table and the speculation the surrounded Allardyce's future at Upton Park seems a distant memory.
While times are good for the London club, the league table is so tight that just four points seperate Swansea in 10th and Sunderland in 18th.
With so much still to play for, Allardyce is hopeful that the chance for his players to recharge in Dubai – where they have been training since Thursday – will give West Ham the edge during the business end of the season.
"I’ve been coming here for about 14 years with various teams and we have always found the facilities in Dubai exceptionally good," Allardyce said. "Obviously the warm weather is guaranteed and the lads are really enjoying it.
"The horrendous climate we have in England and the amount of games we have to play in December and January is our peak time so physically and mentally they are very tired.
"Getting out and training in the sun, and enjoying each other's company is extremely important.
"Our data has told us that players' levels have increased when they got back even if it is only after a few days away," Allardyce added. "They can recharge the batteries physically and mentally and results have always improved for me.
"We are the only country that doesn’t have a mid season break so we have to fit it in at times like this. With us not having a game we are here in the sunshine again and getting ready for the big push in the last 12 game."
Allardyce revealed that at the start of the season, West Ham's aim was to finish 10th or better "but we had to reassess that when we had all of the injuries."
