ADAM EL-ABD believes the spirit of the Burnley game can help Albion through a tough festive programme.

The Seagulls travel twice, to Reading on Boxing Day and Coventry on New Year’s Eve, before hosting current Championship leaders Southampton on January 2.

Gus Poyet’s side battled for 78 minutes with nine men before going close to a famous point against the Clarets at The Amex last Saturday.

El-Abd, hoping for three outings in eight days after just one full match in eight months, is convinced that sort of unity will help Albion tackle a testing period with players out through injury and suspension.

He said: “It can definitely be a turning point. Why not?

“It was tough but we stuck together out there as a team and made sure the scoreline did not make us a laughing stock, which it could have been after being down to nine men for so long.”

El-Abd could feature at right-back over the holiday period after Gonzalo Jara Reyes was recalled from his loan spell by West Bromwich Albion.

There is also the option of switching Mauricio Taricco to the right of defence after left-back Marcos Painter recovered from a hamstring injury in time for the festive programme.

El-Abd added: “We are in for training on Christmas Day, then we travel to Reading on Christmas night.

"We are all used to it. We know the drill. It's just a case of knuckling down.

“I'm feeling good. I've watched a lot of the Championship this season and it's a big game every week.

“There is very little in it from to to bottom.

“You see upsets, such as Doncaster beating Southampton. Things like that happen.”