Aidy Boothroyd is due to hold talks with Watford chairman Graham Simpson today to see if there is a possibility of extending Darren Ward’s loan spell.

The centre-half is ineligible to face parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers at Vicarage Road tomorrow and his second stint with the Hornets is due to end following Tuesday night’s trip to Preston North End.

The 30-year-old has produced a series of steady performances since returning to his first club in the midst of their injury crisis and, conscious of Watford’s financial position, Boothroyd said: “I know what I’d like to do but I need to make sure that I can do what I’d like to do, so I’ll have that chat tomorrow morning I think.”

The absence of Ward means the Hornets boss is certain to have to make at least two changes for the visit of Mick McCarthy’s high-flying side as Tamas Priskin is ruled out for the first game of his three-match suspension following his dismissal against Cardiff City. Tuesday night’s captain, Lee Williamson, may also be doubtful after being replaced at half-time with a buttock injury.

Boothroyd confirmed Priskin has been disciplined and said of his sending off: “It changed the game completely. Tamas won us the game at Southampton with his two goals, played very, very well, was great in the first half-an-hour and then he reacted to something which is unprofessional.

“In fairness to him he’s apologised to the players and the staff, which I think says a lot about him, and we lost two points. We’re disappointed but we move on.”

Priskin’s enforced absence means Grzegorz Rasiak is likely to go straight back into the starting line-up after making his comeback from the bench against the Bluebirds following two months out with a broken bone in his shoulder.

Although the manager is delighted to have his on-loan striker available again, he revealed the Pole may not have been considered for one of the forward’s beths had circumstances not dictated otherwise.

“I would probably like to hold him back a bit more for a couple of games,” Boothroyd admitted. “You could see when he came on he was a little bit rusty, but he’s a proven goalscorer at this level, he’s a terrific player, so he’s going to have to get his match fitness by playing in the Championship.

“I’ve got Theo [Robinson] back as well and obviously Liam Henderson is another option, but I think we’ve got to be careful with him. He has been out a long time and when it’s the injury that he had, you can’t go running, you can’t do anything. It’s just a wait for nature to take it’s course job.”

Like Williamson, Jay DeMerit is also due to have a fitness test on his hamstring problem today to see if he can face a Wolves team who will still be smarting from their 5-2 thumping at Norwich City in mid-week.

However, if the skipper is ruled out for a third consecutive match, Lloyd Doyley will be expected to return to the defence, with Adrian Mariappa possibly moving inside to partner Leigh Bromby at centre-half. Doyley can also play in the heart of the backline, but this would be a more surprising move.

Acknowledging the possibility of having to shuffle his defensive pack if DeMerit is still sidelined, Boothroyd said: “I will but hopefully if Jay can come through then it shoudn’t be too much disruption, but we’ll have to wait and see. There may be a possibility of getting another loan player, but I’ll have to wait and see on that.”