The Premier League resumes on 26 December after a six-week break to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar.
For some top clubs, an enforced hibernation will have offered the chance to reset, rest key players or get those on the treatment table closer to fitness.
However, others will be braced to deal with the emotional and physical hangover from the tournament as players return either brimming with confidence or nursing an injury or the baggage of costing their team at a key moment.
BBC Sport looks at who might benefit or lose out when the English top flight gets back underway.
R&R for Haaland as Arsenal's Jesus suffers injury blow
While the world did not get to see the Premier League's most potent striker in Qatar, Manchester City will hope that a mid-season holiday helps E.Haaland maintain his explosive form.
With 18 goals in 13 league games and another five in four Champions League appearances, much could depend on the fitness and freshness of the Norway international as City target domestic and European success.
If the prospect of a goal-hungry Haaland isn't terrifying enough for defenders, then R.Mahrez should also be raring to go for City after his Algeria team failed to qualify and fellow forward J.Alvarez returns to England on the crest of a wave after being a central figure in Argentina's triumph.
In contrast, Arsenal's five-point lead at the top of the table appears distinctly more vulnerable after a knee injury ended Gabriel Jesus' tournament prematurely.
The Brazil forward has been a transformative signing for the Gunners this term but now faces a significant spell on the sidelines as Mikel Arteta's team faces a challenging sequence of matches, beginning with a home game against West Ham and a trip to Brighton, with fixtures against Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United to follow before the end of January.