Preview: Watford vs. Huddersfield Town

Watford go into Saturday's Championship match with Huddersfield Town sitting pretty in second after four games of the new league season.

Three comfortable victories have ensured that the Hornets have kept up with early pace-setters Nottingham Forest, and optimism is beginning to grow regarding a genuine push for promotion this season.

Last weekend's 4-1 victory over Leeds United did nothing to quash those hopes and, although Watford did finish the match with a two-man advantage, their performance will have been very pleasing for manager Giuseppe Sannino.

Indeed, he is now faced with a selection problem following Fernando Forestieri's impressive two-goal display, with Matej Vydra also pushing for a start up front.

Those two are likely to battle it out for a place alongside Troy Deeney, who gave the club a huge boost this week by signing a new four-year contract at Vicarage Road.

However, the Hornets' momentum was stunted somewhat by a surprise defeat to Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup on Tuesday, although that will allow Sannino to turn his full attention to league duties until the FA Cup comes around in January.

Vydra started that match in midweek but is expected to drop back to the bench to make room for Forestieri following his performance last weekend.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, have experienced a mixed start to the season, although under the circumstances they will be fairly pleased with how things have gone so far.

Caretaker boss Mark Lillis has picked his side up from a shambolic opening weekend to amass four points from their last three games - although they may feel that it should be more than that.

Charlton Athletic netted an injury-time equaliser to rescue a point last weekend after Huddersfield had held out with 10 men for the entire second half.

Lillis, who is now in his third temporary spell in charge of the club, will once again be in the dugout this weekend as the Terriers continue their search for a new permanent manager.

This is likely to be his final match at the helm, however, as Huddersfield have the international break to appoint a new boss following this weekend's game.

Chris Powell is the favourite for the job, but whoever does come in will not have the League Cup as part of their responsibilities after the midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest in the second round.

James Vaughan is nearing his return from a lengthy calf injury and could start this one having featured off the bench a couple of times this season, while Nahki Wells is also expected to shake off a knock to his ankle.

However, there are injury concerns over both Tommy Smith and Lee Peltier, potentially leaving Huddersfield short at right-back.

Recent form

Watford: WWLWWL

Huddersfield: LWLWDL

Possible starting lineups

Watford: Gomes; Hoban, Tamas, Angella; Paredes, Tozser, Abdi, Pudil, Munari; Forestieri, Deeney

Huddersfield: Smithies; Smith, Wallace, Lynch, Dixon; Coady, Peltier, Butterfield, Scannell, Bunn; Wells

Sports Mole says: 3-0