Edwin van der Sar is happy to play through a packed festive programme - but he would back a short winter break immediately afterwards.

Manchester United's unscheduled exit from the Carling Cup means the veteran Dutch keeper will get a spell in the sunshine next month when the Red Devils head out to Saudi Arabia for a five-day relaxation period immediately after the Premier League trip to Reading on January 19.

While most continental players would now be starting the long wind-down to Christmas, England is gearing itself up for the most congested period in the entire fixture list, with four games in 11 days to New Year's Day, followed by the FA Cup third round the following weekend.

It is the latter programme Van der Sar would like to get pushed back by a week, if only to give some weary limbs a chance to recover.

"I don't mind playing Christmas and New Year," he said.

"The only thing I would recommend is that after January 1 there should be six or seven days off.

"If FA Cup could be postponed by a week to allow everyone five or six days to get some rest, that would be great."