Watford need somebody to inject energy into what could be a flat Tuesday night at Vicarage Road – and Mamadou Doumbia is out to be just that man.
The Hornets face one of the most decisive matches of their season, not necessarily because they can put themselves in the hunt for sixth – though they could, technically – but because the tone will be set for the remainder of the campaign.
Lose, slipping 11 points behind sixth, and Vicarage Road could become an uncomfortable place, if enough fans stick around to make it so.
Win, however, and there is some sense of renewed energy and purpose heading into Saturday's game against Leicester City.
The situation is harsh on Ed Still, who 'coached a win' in terms of performance between both boxes on Saturday, only to watch his players demonstrate how not to win a match.
The head coach could reasonably claim that he is due a bit of luck and one or two of his players being clinical with the chances he has set them up to create.
Still has only been in WD18 five minutes and is already feeling the weight of issues that long pre-date him, combined with an injury list that has robbed of him the kind of squad depth he laid out as key to his chances when he first arrived.
One returnee tonight, though, is striker Doumbia, whose chaotic style means he is the type of player who can get Vicarage Road making the right type of noise.
The Mali international appears a likely starter considering Luca Kjerrumgaard's knee "looked like a helmet" on Saturday, while Vivaldo Semedo lasted little over an hour before being replaced by the out-of-position Nestory Irankunda.
He has a point to prove after missing the last three matches, suspended for pushing Dara O'Shea in the face during the Hornets' last home match against Ipswich Town.
Doumbia accepts that he made a mistake and is keen to make up for lost time.
He told the club website: "One hundred per cent I can learn from that. I am young and sometimes you make a mistake.
"If you make a mistake, you have to put your head up and try to look forward.
"I'm happy to be back because it was not easy to miss three games.
"It was so tough on me, but now the suspension is finished. I'm back with the team and I'm ready to fight with them and try to help.
"It will be a good feeling to get back on the pitch."
Doumbia had scored in Watford's 2-0 win against Derby County three days earlier, extending a run at that stage of three goals in six appearances at Vicarage Road.
Profligacy has been a major issue for Still's side in the last week and the striker is aiming to help put that right.
He said: "You create the chances but you don't score – it can happen.
"We need to try and score a lot of goals in this game. With myself, Luca and Vivaldo, we all play in the same position and we're all young.
"They help me every day and we have a very good relationship."
A lively performance from Doumbia feels like a major component of a more positive night for Still, who will also make changes elsewhere.
Tonight 🎬 pic.twitter.com/1H2bf8bUWD
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) March 17, 2026
Stephen Mfuni's season-ending injury is a major blow, the Manchester City loanee emerging as Watford's best defender during his eight-game loan spell, while it is likely time to switch things up in midfield.
Pierre Ekwah is surely due a start after impressing off the bench at Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke, while Nestory Irankunda could return. Edoardo Bove, too, is yet to start a match.
Wrexham haven't visited Vicarage Road since April 1998 and have a particularly poor record there, one win - in March 1975 - across 10 visits.
Not that that's hugely relevant. Of much more concern now is that they can further cement their own spot in sixth with a victory, having won 10 of their last 15 Championship matches.
Still could fairly reflect on the fact that his team don't have to do loads differently to Saturday to win, with a similarly strong performance from Giorgi Chakvetadze also crucial to their chances of picking up a first victory in three tonight.
That said, the dynamic certainly needs to change as the broader sense of doom and gloom after another post-new year decline sets in.
