Gianfranco Zola provides Watford injury update ahead of Tottenham clash on Sunday
10:39am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Latest Sport
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Matej Vydra has struggled with his fitness during pre-season, like a few of the Watford players. Pictures: Action Images and Alan Palmer
Watford head coach Gianfranco Zola has confirmed three of the club's new signings missed yesterday's emphatic win over Barnet due to fitness issues.
The Hornets used 22 players during the 8-0 victory, which was held behind-closed-doors at London Colney, but Fitz Hall, Steve Leo Beleck and Matej Vydra were all left out of the team.
Watford had seven different goalscorers yesterday and were 7-0 up by half-time against the League Two side.
Zola said: "I was pleased with not only the goals, because they give everybody confidence, but also with the way the team are accepting the coaching and transforming that into action.
"Sunday against Tottenham will be a big game and I must say that we are in front of where I expected to be at this stage of pre-season. "
On-loan Udinese forward Vydra, who has spent much of pre-season doing fitness work, and Hall have yet to feature for Watford due to fitness issues.
Leo Beleck, who is also contracted to Udinese, played against Cork City last week but was struggling a little yesterday due to the training session the day before.
Zola said: "Leo Beleck was a precaution more than anything because yesterday it was an intense session.
"Vydra is working on an unbalance in the muscle and he is a precaution as well.
"Fitz Hall came in late and he is working on his fitness and he also had a slight problem when we came back from Ireland."
Like Vydra, Stephen McGinn has also spent most of pre-season working on his fitness after a long lay-off with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
McGinn has not played a competitive game for 17 months and Zola is keen to protect the 23-year-old.
He said: "McGinn has been out for a long time and had a major injury and we want to make sure that when he comes back, he will be fit."
Zola confirmed Prince Buaben's fitness level is still lower than most of the squad after injury but the midfielder did play 45 minutes yesterday.
Two other players who have been injured during pre-season are Britt Assombalonga and Connor Smith.
Zola said: "They picked up small injuries and in pre-season you can’t take any risks so they have been recovering and working on slightly smaller workloads, because we don’t want to cause them more damage.
"Also they are younger players so the amount of work they can take on is less."
Watford returned from their pre-season break in Ireland at the weekend and Zola said the squad "worked well" and that the trip was "excellent".
There will be more from Zola in this week's Watford Observer, which is out tomorrow.
Comments(21)
premier-dreamer
says...
1:38pm Thu 2 Aug 12
Ronny oh Ronny Ronny
says...
1:55pm Thu 2 Aug 12
Roll on Sunday, will be great to see us stroking it about on a perfect new pitch hopefully......
Can't wait to see the legends also!!
jasonwatford
says...
1:59pm Thu 2 Aug 12
D.unstable
says...
2:28pm Thu 2 Aug 12
jasonwatford wrote:Rocket Ronnie for sure :o)
who is in the legends team
Ronny oh Ronny Ronny
says...
2:58pm Thu 2 Aug 12
jasonwatford wrote:Confirmed are the man - Ronnie!! Mooney, Wright, Smart, Rambo, Palmer.... There will be many others
who is in the legends team
jasonwatford
says...
2:59pm Thu 2 Aug 12
Eastsussexhornet
says...
3:23pm Thu 2 Aug 12
matthewp
says...
3:35pm Thu 2 Aug 12
abbotshornet
says...
4:14pm Thu 2 Aug 12
Also looking forward to both games on Sunday whoever plays.
COYH
desk35
says...
4:16pm Thu 2 Aug 12
As much as I would love to see him in a yellow shirt again we have to look to the future .
If these players are so good why are they not going to the premier .
I am quite happy how things are going but as they say Rome was not built in a day .Patience
AngelHornet
says...
5:34pm Thu 2 Aug 12
SAHornet
says...
6:07pm Thu 2 Aug 12
matthewp wrote:How do you know that we're not competing for the likes of these players? GZ still evaluating and coming to decisions on who else we need. Listen to his interviews and you will hear this confirmed by him.
Helguson to Cardiff. Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn. Mackhail-Smith to Leeds. Surely now with the financial clout of the Pozzo's we should be competing for these types of player.
Watfordy2407
says...
8:25pm Thu 2 Aug 12
The concern about our front line will be addressed.Gianfranco will get it right but don't expect too much even if we win our opening game at Palace. Chances are we'll slip up at home soon after whilst the side gets into it's rhythm.Results away may give appearance to be easier.watch and wait
mooneysmagic
says...
10:06pm Thu 2 Aug 12
matthewp wrote:Helguson is past it, Jordan Rhodes has no experience at this level and Mackail Smith is nothing special. Why waste money buying players like this when we can get players just as good on loan from Udinese/Granada
Helguson to Cardiff. Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn. Mackhail-Smith to Leeds. Surely now with the financial clout of the Pozzo's we should be competing for these types of player.
Colin West's mullet
says...
10:20am Fri 3 Aug 12
mooneysmagic wrote:we should be aiming higher than H, but Rhodes will tear defences apart in this league, and CMS has got bags of tricks (and goals) as well as beign a lifeling fan.
matthewp wrote:Helguson is past it, Jordan Rhodes has no experience at this level and Mackail Smith is nothing special. Why waste money buying players like this when we can get players just as good on loan from Udinese/Granada
Helguson to Cardiff. Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn. Mackhail-Smith to Leeds. Surely now with the financial clout of the Pozzo's we should be competing for these types of player.
JR or CMS at The Vic would make my season.
Bringe
says...
10:42am Fri 3 Aug 12
Colin West's mullet wrote:I know "Football Manager" are our sponsors but I don't think you quite understand our owners policy Mr Mullet.
mooneysmagic wrote:we should be aiming higher than H, but Rhodes will tear defences apart in this league, and CMS has got bags of tricks (and goals) as well as beign a lifeling fan.
matthewp wrote:Helguson is past it, Jordan Rhodes has no experience at this level and Mackail Smith is nothing special. Why waste money buying players like this when we can get players just as good on loan from Udinese/Granada
Helguson to Cardiff. Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn. Mackhail-Smith to Leeds. Surely now with the financial clout of the Pozzo's we should be competing for these types of player.
JR or CMS at The Vic would make my season.
Colin West's mullet
says...
12:31pm Fri 3 Aug 12
Bringe wrote:not quite sure what you're basing that statement on, Mr Bringe.
Colin West's mullet wrote:I know "Football Manager" are our sponsors but I don't think you quite understand our owners policy Mr Mullet.
mooneysmagic wrote:we should be aiming higher than H, but Rhodes will tear defences apart in this league, and CMS has got bags of tricks (and goals) as well as beign a lifeling fan.
matthewp wrote:Helguson is past it, Jordan Rhodes has no experience at this level and Mackail Smith is nothing special. Why waste money buying players like this when we can get players just as good on loan from Udinese/Granada
Helguson to Cardiff. Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn. Mackhail-Smith to Leeds. Surely now with the financial clout of the Pozzo's we should be competing for these types of player.
JR or CMS at The Vic would make my season.
I understand it perfectly well - I simply disagreed with someone's assessment of 2 players. Nowhere did I say I expect to see them join us - they're both a little out of our league, to be frank, even if the Pozzo formula didn't prefer inter-group loans.
Bringe
says...
1:41pm Fri 3 Aug 12
In hindsight we should possibly have pushed the boat out for CMS a couple of seasons ago but now that particular ship has sailed.
No Wheels
says...
9:16am Sat 4 Aug 12
No Wheels
says...
10:29am Sat 4 Aug 12
Chris the Vic says...
11:58am Thu 2 Aug 12