Sodje starts against Blades

2:31pm Saturday 27th September 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

On-loan signing Sam Sodje goes straight into the starting line-up to face Sheffield United this afternoon in a Watford team containing generally improving injury news.

The Reading player, who joined for a month yesterday, replaces injured skipper Jay DeMerit, which means John Eustace takes over the captain’s armband.

John-Joe O’Toole, who missed the mid-week victory over West Ham, returns to the midfield, while Jobi McAnuff, Liam Henderson and Mat Sadler, the latter significantly earlier than expected, are fit enough to be included on the bench.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell, meanwhile, has made two changes to the side that was thumped 6-0 by Arsenal’s youngsters in mid-week.

David Cotterill and Nick Montgomery make way for Kyle Naughton and Billy Sharp, which means former Hornet Danny Webber, who started up front at the Emirates Stadium, switches to the left side of midfield.

Another more recent Watford player, Darius Henderson, is fit enough to be included in the replacements, but Matthew Spring remains sidelined through injury.

Meanwhile, the Hornets face the prospect of travelling to South Wales twice in a week after being paired with Swansea City in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Watford were already scheduled to travel to The Liberty Stadium on Sunday, November 9 in the league, but thanks to one of those quirks that cup draws always seem to throw up they will return to the same arena a few days later to face Roberto Martinez’s men again.

Sheffield United: Kenny; Halford, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith; Webber, Speed, Quinn, Naughton; Sharp, Beattie. Substitutes: D Henderson, Hendrie, Montgomery, Dyer, Ehiogu.

Watford: Loach; Mariappa, Bromby, Sodje, Harley; Smith, Williamson, Eustace, O’Toole, Ainsworth; Hoskins. Substitutes: Sadler, McAnuff, Lee, Bangura, L Henderson.