Gibson believes most players he knows want more, not less football

Players' union chief Gordon Taylor has led calls for a mid-season window while 13 of the 15 union reps who responded to a BBC Sport survey supported it.

But Gibson said: "I'd take some convincing about a two-week break.

"I've never heard anyone call football a daily grind. If they're tired rest them, that's why there are big squads."

Interview: Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson

Taylor has warned that the likes of Steven Gerrard and other England stars are facing burn-out because of the demands placed on them.

606: DEBATE Burn out? Stop whinging and get on with it. If the top players aren't keen on the work I suggest they give up football and do a proper job kingkippax

Gerrard has started six games in the last 18 days, including England's trip to Moscow and Liverpool's to Istanbul.

"If that was a racehorse you would say that was too much and have the RSPCA onto you," Taylor told BBC Sport.

But Gibson told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We are talking about fit young men who are very well pampered, have the best diet in world, travel to games in luxury surroundings.

"They stay in the best hotels, have the best doctors, physios, they have the best of everything.

"The problem at our football club is not the players who are playing but the ones who aren't and I haven't met a player yet who doesn't want more football."

Any player complaining should come and do a 14-hour day in industrial Teesside Steve Gibson

And Gibson insists highly-paid professionals moaning about the physical demands of the game should feel more grateful for their "privileged profession".

"That's what the Premier League, international and European football is all about, the strongest teams winning with the strongest players.

"If the players aren't up to it they aren't up to it. There would be many players upset if they were forced to miss an international because someone perceived them to be tired.

"Any player complaining should come and do a 14-hour day in industrial Teesside. We're not asking them to go to Afghanistan or Iraq, we're asking them to play football."

Taylor insisted the biggest problem is with the country's elite players who "need the most looking after."

But Gibson added: "If that's the case they should tell Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea not to pick their international players and give them a rest.