Albion boss Chris Hughton has called for a change to the hectic Christmas fixture programme.

He is unconvinced about the merits of a winter break but wants the number of matches over the festive period cut from three to two.

Albion visit Chelsea on Boxing Day. They go to Newcastle on December 30 for another 3pm kick-off, then entertain Bournemouth in a live TV game less than 48 hours later on New Year’s Day (12.30).

Hughton told The Argus; “I certainly feel you can pull one of the games out in a really hectic Christmas period. As regards a winter break, it’s a very big decision, something we’ve never done here.

“I presume it’s been good value in other countries and that’s why they’ve done it. Certainly it’s not something I would be 100% against but I would take some convincing.

“But I feel in a really heavy Christmas calendar they could certainly pull one of the games out that can give that little bit more of a break.

“A long time ago it was a game, then a game the next day, then it changed to two days. We should be at all costs trying to avoid two days and I think in our calendar we could do.”

Albion launch a busy programme in the Premier League of 11 games in six weeks against Stoke at the Amex on Monday night (8pm).

They face Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Liverpool in the space of eight days but Hughton will not target some fixtures at the expense of others.

He said: “I don’t think you can afford to do that, because you can lose the games you think you are going to win.

“In my time here it has always been about what you think is the correct team for one game.

“There might be a difference between a home and an away game, a more defensive type player that you play away from home. They are just decisions you have to make.

“The difference is it’s going back to what we have done for the past two years (in the Championship).

“Saturday to Saturday you have a nice preparation time, whereas if there are midweek games it’s very much finishing one and on to the next one. We as a staff are used to that.”