AIDY BOOTHROYD has hinted that Will Hoskins and Lee Williamson may be given their chance at Bramall Lane tomorrow (Saturday).

In the wake of the knee injury to Damien Francis, who will be out for up to six months after damaging his anterior cruciate ligament, Williamson should at least make the squad for the trip to Sheffield, especially with Gareth Williams also sidelined.

Hoskins could also feature as Tommy Smith (hamstring) is still out injured and Darius Henderson (calf) is rated at 50-50. James Chambers and Jordan Stewart will also undergo late fitness tests.

With the pressure off, now is surely the time to blood the pair who have made just three starts between them since Watford paid a combined £1.2m for them in January.

"(Damien's injury) certainly gets Lee higher up the pecking order. They could well get their chance in the next three games to show what they are all about," said Boothroyd, who admitted it had taken longer than he anticipated for the pair to embrace the Watford way'.

"They are both different characters. Will is on his own, he is a young kid, has been at one club all his life, he was a big fish there and now he has come to a slightly bigger pond.

"He's had to adapt a bit, he might not be the best player anymore. They've both had to adapt to the training regime and the way we do things here, they are both now living in London and that's a different environment."

Only Douglas Rinaldi of Boothroyd's January signings can be constituted a success to date and the on-loan Brazilian has done his chances no harm at all of winning a permanent contract, scoring at Blackburn and teeing up Tamas Priskin for Saturday's equaliser.

In the absence of Francis, Rinaldi's role as the creative force in midfield will be even more important.

"It is a big blow to lose Damien," said the manager. "I have been really pleased with him. I thought he was really starting to come into form.

"We did really well with injuries last year and this season we have had a few. It was just an innocuous little stretch and he hyper-extended his knee."