Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores could hand summer signing Obbi Oulare a debut start if he decides to rest either Troy Deeney or Odion Ighalo.
Nathan Ake remains suspended while Tommie Hoban (groin) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) are both out.
Steve McClaren will be without Jack Colback for the trip to Vicarage Road.
However Rolando Aarons and striker Emmanuel Riviere could return to the squad after lengthy injury lay-offs.
Editor’s Note: Steve McClaren currently finds his Newcastle side in the bottom 3 and will look to put their league worries behind them as his side have a crack at their only attempt at silverware this season. They visit a Watford side who sit 9th in the league but have lost to late goals in their last two matches.
The Hornets have been very unfortunate not to get anything out of home defeats to Tottenham and Manchester City and will be looking to get back to winning ways today at Vicarage Road. Manager Quique Sanchez Flores only real decision is whether to rest either of Troy Deeney and Odion Igahlo they key men in this fearsome striking partnership.
As for Newcastle, the fans are crying out for some silverware and Steve McClaren would probably have a statue built if he managed to deliver a Cup Final win this season. But their first hurdle won’t be an easy one, they’ve lost their last 3 league games but that’s not necessarily down to performance that’s more down to not being able to find the net.
Summer signing Alexsandar Mitrovic has been particularly wasteful in front of goal as of late and McClaren is probably still asking himself how his side didn’t come away with at least a point last weekend at The Emirates. I think the answer to that is poor finishing.
He’ll hope for a reversal of fortune today but as Watford have shown Vicarage Road isn’t an easy place to go to this season. I expect Watford just to edge this one and move into the 4th Round.
