AMIDST ALL the speculation surrounding the future of Malky Mackay, Watford actually have a game to play against Mick Wadsworth’s Hartlepool United in the F.A Cup.
The Monkey Hangers sit 8th in League One, just a point outside the Play Off’s.
Wadsworth replaced former manager Chris Turner back in August with Turner only having spent eight months in charge of the club.
The Hornet’s have not met the Monkey Hanger’s since 1978 and the two clubs most recent affiliation was the loan spell of Liam Henderson who was at the Victoria Ground without scoring last season.
Watford Team News: Malky Mackay has a selection headache ahead of Saturday but still the Scot has promised his strongest available XI.
Skipper John Eustace, Lee Hodson and Michael Bryan are all definitely out whilst Jordon Mutch and Andrew Taylor returned to their parent clubs on loan recently.
The loss of Mutch and Taylor leaves Malky needing replacements at left back and central midfield. Lloyd Doyley looks the most likely to replace Taylor with the defence lining up as they did for much of the Scunthorpe clash with Dale Bennett partnering Martin Taylor at centre-half.
Experienced heads in the shape of Don Cowie and Danny Graham were lost against the Iron though they, along with Stephen McGinn are rated as ‘touch and go’. Midfielder Josh Walker is cup tied having played in the second round whilst on loan at Stevenage.
Loanees Eddie Oshodi and Tom Aldred are back from temporary spells with Dagenham and Stockport.
Likely Line-up: Loach; Mariappa (c), Taylor, Bennett, Doyley; Jenkins; Whichelow, Deeney, Buckley; Sordell and Massey.
Form Player: Will Buckley – The shaggy-haired winger is in the form of his Watford career of late. Having made everything good happen for the Hornet’s in the trouncing of Cardiff, Buckley was also impressive in the defeat of Portsmouth on New Years Day.
Home Form: Watford 3-2 Leicester City, Watford 4-1 Cardiff City and Watford 3-0 Portsmouth.
Head2Head Form: Watford 4-0 Hartlepool United, Hartlepool United 1-0 Watford (’76/’77); Hartlepool United 1-2 Watford and Watford 1-0 Hartlepool United (’77/’78)
Hartlepool United Team News: Defender Sam Collins missed the clash with Notts County having injured his knee against Oldham the week prior so should miss this F.A Cup tie.
Striker Bill Greulich is out following ankle surgery whilst former Palace ‘keeper Scott Flinders has had surgery on a thumb ligament problem so misses out.
Line-up Vs. Notts County: Kean; Austin, Haslam, Horwood, Hartley; Sweeney, Monkhouse, Liddle, Humphreys (c); Gamble and McSweeney.
b>Away Form: Bournemouth 0-1 Hartlepool United, Huddersfield 0-1 Hartlepool United and Notts County 3-0 Hartlepool United.
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