5:00pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Frank Smith
Will Hoskins is fit to play against Cardiff City on Sunday as Watford look to end their five-month search for an away win.
Hoskins scored the Hornets' winner against Ipswich Town on Tuesday night to stop his side’s run of four consecutive defeats.
The striker, who signed from Rotherham United, in January 2007, grabbed his third goal of the season against Roy Keane's side but was unable to celebrate as he went down injured.
However, Watford manager Malky Mackay confirmed: "Will had a touch of cramp but he is going to be fine. It shouldn't be a problem for the weekend."
Watford have no other injury worries going into this Sunday's game.
Forward Will Buckley grabbed his first goal for the Hornets since joining from Rochdale in January in Wednesday night's Reserve-team win over Ipswich.
Buckley opened the scoring in the 14th minute and Lewis Young grabbed another in the second half for a strong side which included the likes of Richard Lee, Lee Hodson, Ross Jenkins and Stephen McGinn.
The January signing was an unused substitute for the first team the night before and will be hoping to make his debut at Cardiff’s new 27,000-seater stadium.
The Hornets have not won on the road since beating Middlesbrough 1-0 on October 17 and Mackay admits the run, which stands at 12 games in all competitions, needs to end.
The manager said: "We have got to change that and address the balance there. It is not something anybody at the club is happy with, the players especially. They need to win away from home soon."
Cardiff beat Watford 4-0 at the beginning of October but Mackay insists "that defeat means nothing" and claims Tuesday's win has given his side confidence ahead of their clash with sixth-placed City.
Mackay said: "We had three home games and you want to win them, but I look at the performances and I thought we were incredibly unlucky to come away from the Swansea and the Peterborough games with no points.
"To get the three points against Ipswich helps immensely in terms of the points on the board and gives them the confidence going into Sunday."
Watford are currently in 19th place and four points off the relegation places, although that could change before Sunday as most Championship sides are playing the day before.
Cardiff are without long-term absentees Joe Ledley and captain Mark Hudson at the weekend.
Bluebirds full-back Kevin McNaughton is a doubt with a thigh problem but centre back Gabor Gyepes is expected to be fit after a back problem.
But City have been boosted by the return of Stephen McPhail and the Championship's leading scorer Peter Whittingham in recent weeks.
It was Whittingham who snatched the last-minute winner against Coventry City on Tuesday night.
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