4:56pm Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Frank Smith
Will Buckley looks set to once again have to wait for his Watford debut after Malky Mackay confirmed the winger will play for the Reserves tomorrow.
Buckley has not started for the Hornets since his January move from Rochdale but last Thursday Mackay stated he was back in “serious contention” for the first team against Peterborough United, after 45 minutes and 71 minutes for the Reserves the previous week.
However, Mackay has confirmed Buckley will be lining up against the Ipswich Town Reserves tomorrow and not the Tractor Boys’ first team tonight.
Mackay said: "He will be involved in the Reserves to get a full game in and from there he'll be ready to go."
The Hornets boss stated he expected the rest of the squad to be available for the visit of Ipswich tonight.
Mackay said: "We have a couple of bumps and bruises but we should be okay for the game.”
Ipswich have received a boost ahead of tonight’s match as defender Damien Delaney had his red card from Saturday rescinded by the Football League this afternoon.
Roy Keane also welcomes back midfielder Grant Leadbitter following a two-game suspension after he picked up ten yellow cards.
But Daryl Murphy is a doubt after suffering from blurry vision during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Scunthorpe United and could be replaced by 16-year-old Connor Wickham, who scored his first league goal at the weekend after coming on for Murphy.
Ipswich have improved dramatically recently after finding themselves bottom of the table as recently as the beginning of November.
Town have lost just four of their last 25 matches and have climbed up to 17th place, five points above Watford in 19th.
Keane’s men have drawn 17 times this season, however, more than any other side in the division.
Watford are in a terrible run of form and have won just twice out of their last 14 matches, losing the last four.
History is on the Hornets’ side though as Ipswich have not beaten the Hertfordshire club in their last ten attempts, although that record would have ended in October had it not been for Nathan Ellington’s injury-time equaliser.
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