Wilder keen to give Watford's young players game time

With only three games to go, while it is mathematically possible to reach the play-offs the likelihood is even that will come to an end as other teams above Watford pick up points.

Many fans have been hoping to see some of the Academy products getting more game time, and while Wilder expects to have a couple involved at Hull tomorrow, injuries have reduced his options.

“I’ve always looked at the group we have and also the Academy. There’s been a lot of talk about young players, and Ryan Andrews has come in and been excellent,” he said.

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“There are players in that Academy group I’m looking at. Unfortunately Tobi Adeyemo and Jack Grieves are injured at the moment, as I would have liked them to be involved.

“Adrian Blake is going to be involved with us tomorrow though, which is good.

“I think getting the young lads more involved is the right idea and the right time now.”

Outside of bringing younger players in, the squad for tomorrow will be largely the same.

“I’ve not had a lot of contact with the players since Wednesday, to be honest,” said Wilder.

“I know from talking to the medical staff we have one or two bumps and bruises that hopefully will be ok for selection tomorrow.

“Craig Cathcart got a bang in training and that, coupled with us going to a back four, has meant he’s been out. He’ll have trained today and then will travel with us to Hull.”

With mid-table mediocrity looking the likely outcome for the season, it’s tempting to say there’s not much now left to play – but the Watford head coach disagrees.

“I’ll have something to pay for. Liam Rosenior and his team will be playing for something. I expect our team to be playing for something. There is always something to play for,” he said.

“There’s still nine points on the table and I will be going to the end. We have an obligation to do so.

“I’m not expecting us to have 10,000 at Hull but the fans who are there will have spent their hard-earned money to come and watch a team.

“They support their football club and their team, and there is a lot to play for as far as I’m concerned.

“They will want to see something a lot, lot better than Wednesday night, and I always use the four cornerstones of the game to judge.

“Technically – yes, we have to be better. Tactically, we have a plan and structure which we stuck to for 15 minutes on Wednesday.

“Physically we definitely have to be better as we didn’t win enough tackles, headers and races. And then mentality, we’ve talked about that at length: Wednesday was another game where we’ve got ourselves in front and when the heat got turned up, we couldn’t handle it.”

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Why does Wilder think the players are so quick to ‘go individualistic’?

“Maybe their personalities and characters, and other bits and pieces, make them think this is an individual sport. That if they do their own bit, they’ll benefit themselves,” he pondered.

“I believe if you go and win games of football as a team then everybody benefits.

“I’ve never seen a player’s value go down when he’s part of a team that is top of the league and winning games. Interest in a player does not deteriorate when they are part of a winning team.

“Be a good team player, do your individual stuff within the team structure and you will get the benefits.

“There is no down side to being a good player within a good team. If you want to move on and go to a higher level, there will always be someone watching you and they will see what your characteristics are within a team.”