Cardiff City - Watford preview - Slade to assess options

Posted Saturday, December 27, 2014 by PA

Russell Slade will assess his Cardiff side as they host Watford for their second game in 48 hours. The Bluebirds ended their run of consecutive defeats with a Boxing Day draw at Charlton and they may use their strength in numbers to make changes.

The match may come too soon for Anthony Pilkington (hamstring), but Federico Macheda, Fabio and Kadeem Harris will be keen to return to the line-up after dropping to the bench on Friday. Mats M0ller Daehli left the Welsh club this week for German club Freiburg, and Bruno Ecuele Manga could play his penultimate match for the club before jetting off to January's African Cup of Nations with Gabon.

Watford will have Gabriele Angella available again after suspension for the trip.

The Italian defender missed Boxing Day's 1-0 home loss to Wolves after being sent off for two bookable offences in the previous win at Reading.

Compatriot Gianni Munari returned from a slight hamstring strain to feature at Vicarage Road on Friday, while Troy Deeney also overcame a dead leg.

Odion Ighalo hit the woodwork twice when coming off the bench against Wanderers and could start this time, but Swedish defender Joel Ekstrand has been absent since the end of November due to a lower back problem.