NORWICH City are the visitors to Vicarage Road on Tuesday evening as Watford look to continue their League Cup run, whilst building on back-to-back wins in the Championship.
The Canaries arrive at Vicarage Road having dismantled League Two Bury 6-3 in the second round at Carrow Road, but off the back of an indifferent start to their third season in the Premier League.
An encouraging opening day draw against Everton was followed up by a loss to the 10 men of Hull City before their only victory in the league – 1-0 over Southampton – led to successive by Spurs and Aston Villa.
Whilst the six goals against the fourth division Shakers might say otherwise, the big problem for the east Anglian outfit has been their lack of goals.
Strikers Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Gary Hooper were brought in over the summer to take up the goalscoring mantle following Grant Holt`s sale to Wigan Athletic, but only van Wolfswinkel has found the back of the net in the league so far – a fine header in the 2-2 draw with Everton on day one.
Van Wolfswinkel, 24, arrived from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in a deal thought to be worth up to £8.5m.
The Netherlands international, who has two caps to his name, enjoyed two good years in Portugal, scoring 28 times in just 51 league starts, bagging another six goals in 17 European games to boot.
Starting his career with Vitesse in his native Holland, van Wolfswinkel moved to FC Utrecht in 2009 and it was his form there – 15 in 26 starts – which persuaded Sporting to spend £6m on the 6ft1in forward.
Twenty-five year-old Gary Hooper has been on the horizon of the Premier League for a couple of years now, having enjoy a prolific stint with Celtic where he scored 63 SPL goals in 90 starts for the Bhoys, weighing in with seven in 14 in Europe.
Starting his professional career at Grays Athletic, it was with Scunthorpe United where the Harlow-born hitman got noticed, bagging 43 in 78 starts for the Iron before moving north of the border to join Neil Lennon`s side in a £2.4m deal.
Touted for an England call-up in recent years owing to his lethal performances at Celtic Park and more importantly, in the Champions League, the 5ft7in forward was set to be included in Roy Hodgson`s squad for England`s friendly against Sweden last November, but injury prevented it.
Former Bolton Wanderers forward Johan Elmander was added to the squad late in the Transfer Window, joining on-loan from Galatasaray for the season before bagging a brace on debut in the League Cup second round.
Luciano Becchio, signed from Leeds United in a swap deal with Steve Morison in January, has yet to score for City, but has only been handed two Premier League starts and a further six substitute appearances during a disappointing first nine months with the club.
There has certainly been no lack of investment from the Canaries` board, with the expectation being an improvement on last season`s 11th-place finish in the Premier League.
Leroy Fer was another recruited from the Eredivisie, joining from FC Twente. The 23 year-old two-cap Netherlands international had looked set for a move to Everton during the January Transfer Window, only for the deal to fall through.
A strong tackler, the midfielder averages 4.5 tackles per game – a feat which makes him the 34th most effective tackler in Europe`s top divisions.
Watford are without Tommie Hoban and Nyron Nosworthy still, whilst Almen Abdi is a doubt.
Whether Gianfranco Zola will continue to rotate his starting XI as he has done in the last two rounds of the League Cup, or play his strongest XI for the Hornets` toughest test of the season, remains the be seen.
New loan signing Josh McEachran should be involved in the mathcday XVIII.
Norwich have three injury concerns, with captain Sebastian Bassong (hamstring), Elliott Bennett (knee) and Ryan Bennett (knee) all doubts.
Predicted line-ups:
Watford: Almunia (capt); Doyley Angella, Ekstrand; Faraoni, McGugan, Iriney, Murray, Anya; Forestieri & Deeney.
Norwich City: Bunn; Martin (capt), Turner, R.Bennett, Olsson; Snodgrass, Howson, Fer, Pilkington; Hoolahan; Elmander
Kick-off: 19:45
Referee: Mr S Martin
Radio: BBC Three Counties & Hornets Player
Highlights: The League Cup Show (BBC1 Weds @ 23:05) & Hornets Player
