Ryan Giggs has celebrated Christmas for the first time in his career at Manchester United.

For the first time in his illustrious career, he has been able to spend the whole day at home with wife Stacey and children Libby and Zach, having been given the day off by Sir Alex Ferguson because United are not in action again until they face Hull at the KC Stadium on December 27.

"Until I had kids I never got excited about Christmas," said Giggs. "You just can't.

"You have to concentrate on playing on Boxing Day and you are always travelling on Christmas Day.

"That is one of the downsides about being a footballer.

"Once you have kids it is hard opening the presents, then going off to training, so, to have Christmas Day off for the first time in my career is definitely welcomed."