Aidy Boothroyd was always going to have to make two changes for this afternoon’s clash with high-flying Wolves at Vicarage Road but he has been forced into a third and a defensive reshuffle.

Grzegorz Rasiak, as expected, replaces the suspended Tamas Priskin, while John Eustace returns for the injured Lee Williamson. However, the Watford manager’s biggest selection problems are at the back.

Darren Ward, who, along with Mark Tyler, extended his loan spell by a further month yesterday, is ineligible to play against his parent club, while skipper Jay DeMerit is still absent with his hamstring problems. This means Lloyd Doyley is back in the starting line-up, but at centre-half, with Adrian Marriappa remaining at right-back.

Like Boothroyd, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy also makes three changes, one of which is enforced following Richard Stearman’s dismissal in the 5-2 hammering at Norwich City on Tuesday night.

Jason Shackell comes into the heart of the defence, while David Edwards and loanee Carlos Edwards are replaced by David Jones and Michael Gray.

Watford: Lee; Doyley, Mariappa, Bromby, Sadler; Smith, Eustace, O’Toole, Harley; Rasiak, Hoskins. Substitutes: McAnuff, Ainsworth, Tyler, Henderson, Jenkins.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ikeme; Foley, Collins, Shackell, Ward; Kightly, Henry, Jones, Gray; Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo. Substitutes: Hennessey, D Edwards, Keogh, Vokes, Friend.