Preview: Watford vs. Middlesbrough

Watford will have the chance to leapfrog 12th-placed Middlesbrough in the Championship table when they host Aitor Karanka's side this weekend.

The Hornets come into the match in strong form, having won two of their last three games and held league leaders Leicester City to a draw last weekend.

Lewis McGugan is still out with a hamstring injury, while Almen Abdi remains sidelined with a long-term foot injury.

However, the home side were boosted by the return of Daniel Pudil during the week, while Tommie Hoban and Essaid Belkalem are back in training.

Meanwhile, the visitors have a number of injury concerns for their trip to Vicarage Road.

Goalkeeper Jason Steele is out with an ankle injury, leaving Shay Given set for a start, while newly-signed Tomas Mejias, who joined on loan from Real Madrid earlier this week.

Defensive pair Dani Ayala and Rhys Williams are also sidelined with ankle and Achilles knocks respectively, while Lee Tomlin will have to wait one more match to make his Boro debut, as he will serve the final game of a three-match ban which carries over from his time at Peterborough United.

The Riverside team, who drew 2-2 with Watford earlier in the season, head into the match on a run of three draws, and have won just twice in their last seven outings.

Recent form

Watford: DLLWDW

Middlesbrough: WWLDDD

Possible starting lineups

Watford: Almunia, Faraoni, Merkel, Hoban, Cassetti, Angeli, Pudil, Battocchio, Forestieri, Deeney

Middlesbrough: Given, Varga, Gibson, Woodgate, Friend, Leadbitter, Chalobah, Carayol, Kamara, Ledesma, Graham

Sports Mole says: 1-1 draw