manager Malky Mackay claims the involvement of Sven Goran Eriksson will not add any extra spice to tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) match with Leicester City.
Eriksson has managed at the highest level with spells at clubs such as Benfica and Lazio before becoming England’s boss in 2001.
The 62-year-old, who led Ivory Coast at this summer’s World Cup, took over as Leicester manager in October following Paulo Sousa’s departure after a poor start to the season.
But when asked whether the Sven-factor added any spice to the weekend’s contest, Mackay replied: “No, not particularly, it is just another Championship game. He has vast experience in various leagues across the world but it is about the players. It will be nice to say hello to him but there will not be any difference.”
Eriksson has been set the target of gaining promotion to the Premier League in the next two seasons by the club’s new owners and has been backed heavily in the transfer market already.
Former England international Darius Vassell signed on a free transfer and Leicester have brought in five more players from Premier League clubs on loan.
Mackay said: “The new owners have come in and Sven has had some money to spend, bringing in real experienced footballers in Chris Kirkland, Curtis Davies, Kyle Naughton, Roman Bednar and Darius Vassell, who have played an awful lot of football between them.”
Leicester will travel to Vicarage Road with an almost fully fit squad, with Kirkland the only noticeable absentee after suffering a recurrence of the back injury which has hindered his career. On-loan Benfica defender Miguel Vitor, who was the other injury concern this week, should be on the bench, with Leicester expected to name the same team which beat Nottingham Forest on Monday.
Watford only have two injury worries, with youngsters Michael Bryan and Piero Mingoia doubtful with ankle and thigh problems.
Mackay also revealed highly-rated striker Gavin Massey, who made his only first-team appearance against Coventry City in May, will be part of the squad.
He said: “Right now Michael Bryan and Piero Mingoia are touch and go. Michael is back in training again whereas Piero has a little thigh strain so he has not trained today. Everybody else is fit and raring to go.
“I am planning to bring Gavin Massey into the squad. Gavin is another youngster coming through and he has done well with the youth team and Reserves. WIth the size of the squad, he is a young player proving he has real potential.
“I have said before, if you do well it doesn’t matter how old you are, you will progress and that comes from the Harefield Academy, through the Reserves and into the first team. He is another one from the conveyor belt.”
Watford’s preparations for the match have been affected by the snow but Mackay has thanked neighbours Arsenal for letting the Hornets use their indoor training facilities this week.
Mackay said: “We have been fortunate enough to use Arsenal’s indoor facility for a couple of times this week which is fantastic and I would like to thank them for that.
“We have also used the swimming pool at Cannons Health Club, so like everyone else we have had to adapt.
“The weather has also meant that we have looked at a bit more footage of Leicester to do analysis.”
Watford have assured fans they are “very confident” the match against the Foxes will go ahead as scheduled as long as the weather does not deteriorate drastically, after the under-soil heating at Vicarage Road was switched on regularly this week.
“The forecast suggests we’ve already had any snowfall of significance,” Watford’s head of operations Glyn Evans said.
“Right now, the area around the ground and town itself hasn’t suffered with significant snowfall so we’re very, very confident.”
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