Richard Lee is set to continue in goal for Watford in tonight's Carling Cup clash at home to Newcastle United while Ben Foster recovers from a knee injury.
Striker Marlon King has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury while defender Clarke Carlisle has a thigh problem.
Fringe men Dominic Blizzard, Tamas Priskin and Albert Jarrett will hope manager Adrian Boothroyd opts to rest first teamers ahead of the match with Chelsea at the weekend.
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder will make a late decision on his side as he waits for news on several players.
Roeder hopes to have Frenchman Antoine Sibierski back from a toe injury.
Goalkeeper Shay Given may travel after recovering from abdominal surgery but is unlikely to figure, while striker Shola Ameobi is facing an operation for a hip problem and Kieron Dyer is recovering from an eye injury.
Watford squad: Lee, Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart, Mackay, Powell, Mariappa, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Bouazza, Spring, Bangura, McNamee, Young, Henderson, Priskin, Jarrett, Chamberlain, Blizzard.
Newcastle squad: Harper, Srnicek, Given, Carr, Taylor, Ramage, Babayaro, Huntington, Moore, Bramble, Parker, Emre, Solano, N'Zogbia, Milner, Pattison, Duff, Rossi, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, Butt.
