McAuley confident of Town revenge

BLUES skipper Gareth McAuley is confident the Blues can gain revenge at Watford by building from the back.

Derek Davis

By Derek Davis

BLUES skipper Gareth McAuley is confident the Blues can gain revenge at Watford by building from the back.

The Irish defender is partnered by club captain Richard Naylor and believes that if they can come out on top in their particular battle they can inspire the rest of the side to victory.

McAuley said: “Our strikers are capable of scoring the goals, so what we need to do is make sure we keep Watford out and get the ball to them. Watford's style got them promoted a couple of years ago so you can't really knock it.

“What we need to do is impose our style on them.

“To do that Richard and I need to make sure we win all the second balls that get knocked down and while we know Watford will be a tough place to go but we are ready for it.”

McAuley will be at the heart of a defence that will be changed for the sixth time this season.

With David Wright still injured, Alex Bruce suspended and Chris Casement out on loan to Hamilton Academicals, Mortz Volz is likely to make his debut.

Wright was due to play agains after recovering from a twisted ankle suffered on the opening day of the season against Preston but broke down in training before he could appear in the behind-closed-doors win over Spurs.

That clears the way for on-loan Volz, with Jaime Peters the most likely back up at right back.

Magilton said: “We will have a look at Moritz in training but he is desperate to play

“He brings Premier League quality and he is a good defender. He can handle one on one situations and he has got fantastic energy so full backs in the modern game are very important - they are often playmakers in a lot of teams.”

Also included in the squad is David Norris after he came through the friendly without adverse reaction and is likely to be on the bench.

Norris is anxious to get back to full fitness so he can show just what he is capable of and why Magilton paid more than £2m to Plymouth for him.

After being doubled by Watford last year Town would love to notch a win at vicarage Road but even with their injury woes Magilton accepts it is a difficult trip in front of a live TV audience.

He said: “We have never let anyone down when we have been on the telly, perhaps Coventry away, but on the whole everyone is up for it because they want to show well.

“We know it won't be easy. Aidy Boothroyd is an outstanding young manager so we will have to go there and roll our sleeves up and do a job.”

The Hornets will be without on loan Southampton striker Grzegorz Rasiak who has damaged a shoulder. Tommy Smith, Jon Harley and Jobi McAnuff are all carrying knocks but should play, with Will Hoskins looking for a start.

Watford squad: Poom, Loach, Doyley, Bromby, DeMerit, Sadler, Mariappa, O'Toole, Bangura, Williamson, Eustace, Harley, Francis, Henderson, Smith, Priskin, Smith, Hoskins.

Ipswich Town squad: Wright, Supple, Volz, Peters, Naylor, McAuley, Smith, Thatcher, Robinson, Walters, Haynes, Norris, Miller, Campo, Garvan, Shumulikoski, Quinn, Trotter, Counago, Lisbie, Rhodes.