Post by QPR Report on Oct 3, 2009 9:39:50 GMT
Heidar Helguson on road to recovery at Champney's
Watford Observer/ Frank Smith - Friday 2nd October 2009
Watford face free-scoring Cardiff City tomorrow with an almost fully-fit squad despite having to cancel training on Wednesday due to a virus which swept through the camp.
Five players were seriously ill with a sickness and diarrhoea virus on Monday night and Ross Jenkins and Craig Cathcart were forced to miss the game with Coventry City completely.
The Hornets squad was already threadbare due to injuries to Heidar Helguson and Jay DeMerit, who will both miss the clash with Cardiff, so Malky Mackay decided to cancel training on Wednesday to prevent other players from catching the bug.
But Don Cowie, Henri Lansbury, Will Hoskins, Jenkins and Cathcart have all recovered from the virus and took part in full training yesterday.
Lee Hodson, who went off with a knee injury against Coventry, and Scott Severin are also in both in contention, as is Nathan Ellington, who is back from suspension after Saturday’s red card against Reading.
There is more good news for Watford as fans’ favourite Helguson is expected to start running at the weekend and could be back from his calf injury in time for the game with Middlesbrough in two weeks time.
Mackay said: “Champney’s have kindly given us the use of their cryotherapy chamber and also they have an oxygen area with a bike and they have kindly given us use of them for Heidar and he is working on both twice a day and is swimming.
“He will hopefully be running at the weekend, which then gives him two weeks to have a chance to be ready for the next game. He will miss Cardiff but we are all hopeful that the work Richard Collinge [head of medical] and his team are putting in will benefit quicker rather than later.”
Tuesday’s defeat to Coventry highlighted how light the Watford squad is and although Mackay is still looking to bring in a couple of loan signings, he insists there will not be a “knee-jerk” reaction and nobody is expected to arrive before tomorrow.
Mackay said: “The teams with the big squads and resources can cope with injuries and suspensions. We need to be at our optimum every week in terms of who we have out there and be lucky with suspensions and injuries.
“That is the way of it and that is life and there is nothing you can do about it and we will add to the squad when we can.
“We have to wheel and deal as far as that is concerned and it has to be the right people coming in and adding to the starting line-up.
“It is not just going to be another body into the club who is on a par or not as good as what is here because all that does is block up places for youngsters coming through.
“If people are coming in then they are coming in for a reason. Heidar Helguson comes in for a reason, Tom Cleverley comes in for a reason, Henri Lansbury comes in for a reason and they make a difference to the group, on the pitch and they also make a difference around the place.”
Tomorrow’s opponents have become a real ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ side this season.
The Welsh club started their campaign with 4-0, 3-0 and 3-1 wins in their opening four league games but then they were victorious just once in their next five matches prior to Tuesday’s 6-1 thumping of Derby County.
The Bluebirds will be without experienced full-back Kevin McNaughton (ankle) and last season’s leading scorer Ross McCormack (hamstring) but Wales international Joe Ledley is expected to return from suspension.
Cardiff striker Michael Chopra was the last man to score a hat-trick for Watford in 2003 and is on fire this season – with his four goals on Tuesday night taking his tally for the season to 11 in ten games.
But City’s win in midweek does not frighten Mackay as he believes Watford should have won by the same margin against Coventry.
Mackay said: “We know exactly what we are going to get with every team. We scout every opposition, week-in week-out and we do our preparation properly and we know exactly what is coming here on Saturday.
“So there is nothing different compared to any other game this season. You prepare properly for every opposition and you respect them and you cover all your bases.”
www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/4660405.Watford_near_to_full_strength_for_Cardiff_City_clash/
