Watford without Dale Bennett and Michael Bryan for Charlton clash (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Watford without Dale Bennett and Michael Bryan for Charlton clash

1:30pm Friday 30th July 2010

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Watford will be without Michael Bryan and Dale Bennett when they face Charlton Athletic at Vicarage Road tomorrow in their final pre-season friendly.

The youngsters are still not fit to return after missing the 2-0 victory at Stevenage with an ankle and calf injury respectively. However, Will Buckley, who also sat out Tuesday's game with a minor knock, should be available.

With the start of the new season now only a week away, Malky Mackay will treat tomorrow's game as a Championship match "in all but name". He also feels the Addicks will provide more beneficial opposition than Italian outfit Parma, who the Hornets faced in their final warm-up contest last summer when Brendan Rodgers was at the helm.

The Watford manager said: "It is [a Championship game] in all but name because that's the sort of team will be playing the following Friday and that's why we've had the build up we've had, in terms of the games we've had.

"There's no point in us playing somebody like Parma because it would have no basis for what's going to be the following Friday night.

"That's why we've got Charlton and that's why we're playing them."

Mackay is also looking forward to sending his team out on home turf for the first time in more than three months.

"I'm delighted obviously to be back at the Vic," he added. "It's somewhere I really enjoy going and I enjoy getting back there and it will be great to have our fans there on Saturday.

"They'll get a chance to see their team for the first time in a few months and it will be great to get them back there and to get the boys out on that pitch because then, in two weeks time, we're going to be back for the first home game."

Fans attending tomorrow's match will notice a number of changes at Vicarage Road since the end of last season.

Although the club has had less time to prepare for the new campaign because of the Elton John concert, the pitch has been renovated and the old roof on the East Stand has been replaced with waterpoof cladding. This has led to a new temporary cover being put over the dugouts because Football League rules stipulate this area must be protected from the weather.

Furthermore, there are new exits in the south east and south west corners, as well as new signage around the stadium, while, away from the pitch, the kiosks in the Upper Rous have been reconfigured.

The club also moved their offices back to the stadium in the summer and staff are now based at the back of the Rookery.

Tickets for tomorrow's game are £10 for adults and £5 concessions and these can be purchased in advance on 0844 856 1881.

The Upper and Lower Rous will be open for home fans, while Charlton supporters will be in the away part of the Vicarage Road End.

The club are not intending to open the Rookery and the home part of the Vicarage Road End unless ticket sales exceed expectations.

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