When Tony Pulis gave his players four days off last month, the message was to relax. A fortnight gap between games offered the chance to rest limbs ahead of a season denouement that West Brom hope will send records tumbling.
As in much of his life, though, Craig Dawson took a different path. He went away with his partner Sinead and their baby daughter to Milan and in 48 hours touring the city’s famous landmarks clocked up 23 miles on foot.
A trip to the San Siro did not form part of the itinerary.
‘Everybody always says, “I was there for the football”, but we didn’t go,’ says Dawson with a smile.