WATFORD caretaker boss Malky Mackay has spoken about the man that would have been his opposite number this Saturday.

Gareth Ainsworth led QPR in the role Mackay is fulfilling at Vicarage Road while the west Londoners waited to appoint Portuguese Paulo Souza as the successor to Iain Dowie. 

A former Wimbledon-man, Ainsworth has now taken a role in Souza's backroom staff at Loftus Road.

Ainsworth and Mackay are at similar stages in their careers, having both graced the Championship for a number of years, they both took up player-coach roles while taking charge of their club's respective second-string sides.

Mackay said: "I think Gareth did a great job while he was in charge. I spoke to him at our reserve game on Tuesday and to come away from Old Trafford with the result he did, and the closeness of the game, it is a good achievement for him.

Ainsworth will lock horns with Mackay at Vicarage Road

"I'm delighted for him personally and I said to him that I'm sure he'll have a chance again."

Meanwhile the R's will have Gavin Mahon in their squad - as he prepares for his first return to WD18 since leaving the Golden Boys in January.

Mahon played over 200 times for the Hornets after joining in March 2002 from Brentford.

Mackay was part of the promotion winning team that Mahon was captain of and he remembers his time fondly at Vicarage Road.

He added: "I'm good friends with Gavin and we played together here for Watford.

"I was delighted to see him score a few weeks ago with a header. I don't think I ever saw him head the ball in the opposition box when he was here!

"He did plenty of defending ones but I don't think I've ever seen him climb like a salmon! So I'll have a word with him about that on Saturday!

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