Talk turns to the injury table
With the international break bringing a timely intermission from action for much of the Watford squad, focus at Vicarage Road has turned to the injury plight of key players.
While the squad appears to have overcome the mystery sickness bug which confined several first-teamers to their beds, Heidar Helguson's battle for fitness is still touch and go despite an intense recovery effort.
The influential forward scored twice on his return to the club against Leicester, but picked up a calf injury shortly afterwards and has been out of action since.
With the two-week break to recover before the Hornets' trip to Middlesbrough, Helguson has been working at Champneys Health Resort in Tring, making the most of the venue'srehabilitation facilities.
The Icelandic international has been exercising in an oxegenated environment in order to speed up the healing process, as well as making use of the resort's Kriotherapy chamber.
Although it is an extremely brief process, Kriotherapy exposes the body to temperatures as low as -135 degrees, the intense conditions aiding muscle recuperation.
Talking to the club's official website, manager Malky Mackay spoke about Helguson's progress: "Heidar's been doing a lot of the Kriotherapy work at Champneys, to whom we're very thankful to and we're pleased with the way he's going at the moment.
"He's also been doing some specialist treatments in an oxygenated area there so he's been working hard with the physio and therapists.
"He's been jogging and he's gradually coming on and we've now got a couple of weeks for him to get fully fit."
While Helguson may well be in contention for Saturday's encounter at the Riverside, club captain Jay DeMerit remains sidelined with an eye infection.
Although bizarre in nature, it is an injury which has kept the defender from featuring for over a month for his team and as of yet there is no set date for return.
The American is undoubtedly keen to return to action soon but will take his time in recovering, understandably declaring the importance of his sight not just for his livelihood, but for life beyond his football
career.
Two of the club's youngest stars featured in England U21s' European Championship qualifier with Macedonia at the weekend.
Both Scott Loach and Tom Cleverley played the full 90 minutes in the 6-3 triumph, with the latter playing a part in two of the goals.
The on-loan Man Utd youngster was impressive in attack, setting up goals for Andy Carroll and Zavron Hines.
After several players pulled out through injury, Don Cowie was delighted to receive his first Scotland call-up, and made his
debut for his country on Saturday.
He replaced fellow debutant Ross Wallace at half time, but was unable to prevent his nation from falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Japan.
After consecutive home defeats, Watford now look for another win on the road.
The odds will stacked against them however.
Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough represent strong opposition despite a recent slump in form.
After impressing off the bench in the Hornets last outing against Cardiff, Nathan Ellington may be pushing for a starting berth alongside Danny Graham in attack.
Scott Severin should also be back in contention following an injury lay off, but Mackay is likely to stick with much of the team that started the Cardiff game.
Having made a very positive start to the campaign, Watford now sit 15th in the table following consecutive defeats.
Boro meanwhile occupy third place, but can be vulnerable, as displayed by their 5-0 drubbing at home by West Brom several weeks ago.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Tring
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
