Swansea vs Watford
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Kick off: 3pm
Odion Ighalo is ready and hungry to return to the Watford side, according to the Watford Head Coach, Walter Mazzarri.
Last Sunday, Ighalo was left out of the starting XI for tactical reasons for the first time in the league since the opening game of last season at Everton.
Mazzarri resisted the temptation to bring him on at the Riverside for the tiring Isaac Success and left him on the bench stewing, hoping the move provided him with a much-needed kick up the backside.
Mazzarri is a tough cookie but he’s also capable of putting an arm around the shoulder.
“I tend to speak to the players face to face,” said the head coach. “I did it for the whole week [with Ighalo]. As the great professional he is, he understands very well [why he was left out].”
Opportunity should knock quickly again for Ighalo today as Isaac Success is a major doubt with a hamstring injury.
“I know he’s looking forward to getting back into the starting XI and [showing] that he belongs to be there,” said the head coach. “He was ready to enter as a sub [at Middlesbrough]. We didn’t need him but he was ready to be play.”
Ighalo is not quite the sharpshooter he was this time last season, however, marking the last 21 Premier League games with just two goals.
Meanwhile, Bob Bradley makes his Liberty Stadium bow today when the Swans host Watford.
The new Swans boss will be hoping for a winning start to life in South Wales after his side suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on his top flight debut.
Under the management of Walter Mazzarri, the Hornets have enjoyed a positive start to the season, having chalked up 11 points from their eight games – a total that sees them in 10th position in the table.
They ran out 1-0 victors at Middlesbrough last time out, thanks to a wonder goal from Jose Holebas, but haven’t secured a win in South Wales since November 2008.
The Swans will be boosted by news that Fernando Llorente will be available to face Watford, having missed Swansea’s last two matches through injury.
Modou Barrow has also been declared fit for this afternoon’s match despite coming off injured at Arsenal last weekend with an ankle problem.
Jefferson Montero, however, is not yet ready to return from a calf complaint, while Nathan Dyer remains Swansea’s only long-term absence.
Swansea Possible IX: Fabianski, Fernadenz, Amat, Naughton, Taylor, Fer, Cook, Barrow, Sigurdson, Routledge, Llorente.
Watford Possible IX: Gomex, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos, Behrami, Ambrabat, Holebas, Capoue, Prereyra, Deeney, Success.