Losing Hassane Kamara to suspension is a blow for Rob Edwards’ Hornets ahead of their trip to Birmingham City on Tuesday night (7.45pm KO), but the Head Coach feels the team’s flexibility in formation and during the game provides Watford with an added advantage.
Captain Tom Cleverley will be closely looked at before the game as he recovers from injury, after coming off at half-time in Friday night’s win over Burnley.
Edwards switched to four in defence for that game, becoming five after Kamara’s dismissal prompted Christian Kabasele’s introduction and a change in responsibilities for winger Ken Sema. Facing fixtures on Tuesday and Saturday may also mean the opportunity for changes and team management.
“The quick turnaround from Friday to Tuesday isn’t easy, but we’ve experienced it Monday to Friday already,” Edwards explained. “We want to be able to recover, we want to get messages across to them for the next game and we’ll need to manage players’ load.
“There are players who feel more sore than others. There’s always lots to do in the three days or so but we’re used to it, so it runs pretty smoothly.
“Being able to change and adapt to a different shape makes us stronger, we can play a number of different ways and win football matches, which doesn’t surprise me because we’ve got good players. But it shows they’re coachable, it shows they’re intelligent, and if we need to we can adjust according to the opposition or what we’ve got available to us.
“We’re still assessing Tom. He’s been playing through some pain, so he’s touch and go at the moment.”
New arrival Keinan Davis signed for the club on Saturday on-loan from Aston Villa. The striker, who has had a pre-season of sorts, is subject to praise from Edwards and will be in contention for upcoming games, but will be looked after first and foremost.
“He’s settled in really well,” the Head Coach continued. “He’s a really good guy, he’s had three good days of training now. He had a pre-season but a lot of his work has been individual work, so he’s someone we’ll probably have to bring up to speed. We want to introduce him quickly, but make sure we manage him right.
“He brings a lot of quality, he can get a hold of the ball and bring others into the game, but also can turn and drive away from his man. He brings know-how, he was involved in a successful team last season that got promoted, so he’s been there and done it very recently, so he brings that side to help us as well.”
Watford’s opponents Birmingham contain two former Hornets captains. John Eustace is at the helm having taken over in the summer, and Troy Deeney has taken up the armband at St Andrew’s in his second season in blue.
It will be the first time Deeney faces the Hornets since his emotional farewell in 2021, after 11 years of service at Vicarage Road. Former midfielder Eustace came up against Watford as a Derby player following his departure from the club in 2013, but will take on the Golden Boys for the first time in the dugout on Tuesday night.
Edwards is fully aware of the sentiment and expects a positive reception for both men from the away supporters, but knows that his players will treat the game as normal in the Midlands.
He added: “Both John Eustace and Troy Deeney have been great servants for this club, very good players and performed consistently for a long time. Troy’s still doing it now!
“I went up against John a few times, I think he scored in one of the games I was playing in so I know the qualities he’s got. I know he’s a good man first and foremost and I like how they play.
“Troy is a club legend and I’m sure our fans will give him the recognition he deserves. I’m sure it’ll be difficult playing against him, I’m sure he’ll be up for it as well, but once the game starts that all has to go, it’s business as usual.”
