WATFORD fans have been given a boost ahead of tonight's (Tuesday's) clash against Burnley at Vicarage Road with the news that the fit-again Jay DeMerit is back in Aidy Boothroyd's starting line-up.

The Hornets have shipped nine goals in four games during the centre-half's absence, and the American's return sees the back four that kept three straight clean sheets prior to his calf injury against West Bromwich Albion reunited.

DeMerit comes in at the expense of Adrian Mariappa, who doesn't make the 16, following the 3-2 defeat at Barnsley, and there is also a recall for Mart Poom following eight games out of the side. The Estonian takes the place of Richard Lee, who drops to a bench that also features Matt Jackson, another player returning from injury, Damien Francis, Nathan Ellington and Tamas Priskin.

Burnley boss Owen Coyle, meanwhile, keeps faith with the same team that was held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke City on Saturday, meaning Clarke Carlisle is included against his former club.

Watford: Poom; Doyley, DeMerit, Shittu, Stewart; Smith, Williamson, G Mahon, Kabba; King, Henderson. Substitutes: Jackson, Francis, Ellington, Priskin, Lee.

Burnley: Kiraly; Alexander, Carlisle, Unsworth, Harley; Elliott, McCann, A Mahon, Lafferty; Gray, Blake. Substitutes: O'Connor, Gudjonsson, Akinbiyi, Jones, Jensen.