WATFORD are expected to be boosted by the return of Malky Mackay, Ben Foster and Jordan Stewart for the crunch clash with Wigan tonight (Wednesday).

Mackay was ruled out of the FA Cup tie with Ipswich on Saturday with a calf injury while Foster and Stewart were not risked after they picked up knocks in training on Friday. However, all three are likely to be restored to the line-up as Watford go in search of their fifth win in seven matches.

Said manager Aidy Boothroyd: "We are buoyant at the moment and we are really looking forward to the game.

"Even if you are not playing well, winning has a habit of putting a smile on people's faces. It would be great (to get off the bottom) but you still go down if you are in 18th place.

"It wouldn't be job done, far from it. I'm doing a Steve Coppell - I'm not looking at the league anymore. I'm just focusing on winning the next match."

Boothroyd has made a conscious effort to take the pressure off his players in recent weeks in an effort to prevent the players from freezing in the manner they did against Sheffield United and Bolton. But how do you manage to play down a game of such significance?

"We will just make sure we prepare properly and give a good account of oursvles which I'm sure we will," said Boothroyd.

"The players will look to me and see what I'm like. If I'm going round biting my nails and looking miserable then they will probably be the same. I'll just keep myself level headed and remind everybody that it is just a game of football. We've just got to make sure we can do all we can and be all we can be and I think that will be enough."