TERRY Venables believes English football should take time out at Christmas and New Year to give the fans and players a break.

Middlesbrough face four games in eight days and Venables will be working on Christmas Day at the training ground.

And he said yesterday: "I would advocate it, everywhere else it happens and I just think it would freshen everyone up.

"I don't think there's too much of a downside to it for players or fans to be honest.

"It's a time of the year when supporters are spending anyway and we're testing their pockets. They could maybe do with a little save-up, so they can start again.

"And clubs could get players back from injury and get them all fit again."

But he admitted that he would not like the season to stop right now, even though Middlesbrough have injury and suspension problems for the visit to Spurs tomorrow.

"I would not like one now, it wouldn't help us in our situation. I'll be here on Christmas Day and it's the first one I haven't had at home, but we've got to keep this going."

And he insisted the Premiership is improving in quality to a degree where it now has a claim to be the best in the world.

"I always felt English football was a great television game but I would rather have watched matches in Italy or Spain," he added.

"People loved to watch English games because of the speed and the mud and the mistakes that were caused because of it - it was exciting. But if that's the case why not flood the pitches and we'll all have some fun?

"I think the speed is still there but there is more quality now with players from all over the world.

"It's been modified. We have some teams playing with a change of pace, like Manchester United, instead of flat out all the time. Some teams still go flat out.

"So it is still a great television game but the quality has been upgraded and it may be the best league now, it's something that can be debated."

Middlesbrough are hoping to have striker Alen Boksic back at White Hart Lane.

The Croatian will have a fitness test tomorrow to decide whether he returns after an absence of three games with a hamstring injury.

Boksic, who has trained all week, has scored five goals but appeared in less than half of Middlesbrough's games because of injuries.

Venables is optimistic he will be available but said: "He has been OK in training and we all know he is a world class footballer. We want him back but you have to be careful with injuries like this and not rush things."

Defenders Ugo Ehiogu and Curtis Fleming are also available after suspension and striker Joseph Desire Job is in contention after recovering from ankle ligament damage.

Phil Stamp has been ruled out again after a training injury and Brian Deane is also facing a test on an injured knee tomorrow