EUSTACE MISSING FOR HORNETS

Eustace - won't feature

Luckless Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd will be without midfielder John Eustace for the visit of Preston as his injury ravaged squad look for a much-needed win on Saturday.

Eustace picked up a thigh injury in the 3-2 defeat to North End's rivals Burnley in midweek so Al Bangura is set to come in alongside Lee Williamson in midfield.

Boothroyd promised after the defeat at Turf Moor that "changes will be made" but the Hornets are seriously short of players.

Captain Jay DeMerit could come back into the starting line up. The defender was named on the bench against Burnley after a hamstring injury and will replace Leigh Bromby - who had an evening to forget - alongside on-loan Wolves defender Darren Ward.

Sam Sodje has returned to Reading after aggravating a knee problem on his debut last weekend but Tamas Priskin did make his return from a hamstring injury against the Clarets and will again be on the bench.

Goalkeeper Mart Poom is beginning a six-month lay-off after he dislocated his shoulder in the contentious 2-2 draw with Reading while replacement Scott Loach is also out long-term after ripping his abdominal muscles.

Lloyd Doyley (hamstring), Jobi McAnuff (back) and Grzegorz Rasiak (Shoulder) complete Boothroyd's injury list.

Preston boss Alan Irvine is boosted by the return of defender Callum Davidson.

The Scot served a one-match ban during the midweek defeat against Swansea after being sent off in the 3-1 loss at Burnley last weekend.

He could return to the side at the expense of on-loan Derby defender Jay McEveley, who gave away a penalty on his debut in the 2-0 loss to the Swans.

Michael Hart sustained an ankle injury during the defeat at Burnley and could be out for several weeks.

Midfielder Richard Chaplow could also miss out again after he suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury at Turf Moor and played no part against Swansea.

Goalkeeper Wayne Henderson (back) and defenders Liam Chilvers (Achilles) and Neal Trotman (hernia) remain sidelined.