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Watford v Blackburn
Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd has revealed he looked at no fewer than 25 trialists this month - and more are on their way.

Unfortunately for Hornets fans, expecting to hear confirmation soon that star forward Ashley Young has left for Aston Villa, none has yet been deemed good enough even for a side that has picked up just 12 points from its first 22 Barclays Premiership games and sits 10 points adrift of safety.

Boothroyd said: ``We are up to 25 trialists now from all over the world, who have come on various recommendations. That's the January madness for you. We have had a good look and some more are expected this week but, at the moment, there has been nobody that I felt could improve the team.

``I can't pronounce most of them. We have had Austrians, Czechs, Poles and Scandinavians, a couple of Africans and we have had South Americans as well.

``I guess it is unusual to have so many but we are desperate to retain our status and it is a hell of a challenge at the moment to be able to do that. We need depth and we need more quality.

``The scouting has been very thorough and we have been working hard since August to set these things up and get people to come in because I will never sign a player without actually seeing him.''

Former Inter Milan and Bolton midfielder Khalilou Fadiga is one of those to have checked in briefly at Vicarage Road, as is Austrian defender Markus Berger - who at least was able to travel with the team on Saturday to witness the 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

The expected departure of Young, for just under #10million, will increase Boothroyd's spending power as the transfer window draws ever nearer to closure.

Last season, Portsmouth spent heavily to get out of a similar predicament but Boothroyd, whose side play a rearranged home game with Blackburn, warned that the Hornets were unlikely to be quite as prolific, especially as the club had lurched close to administration a few seasons ago after making a big gamble on expensive players under Gianluca Vialli.

``It worked for them but there is a big difference in that Portsmouth are a bigger club than we are and had a sugar daddy at that time,'' Boothroyd said.

``It was a gamble that paid off for them but we have got to be a lot more sensible and take more calculated risks in what we do.''

Boothroyd expects to be able to name an unchanged squad for the visit of Rovers, whose UEFA Cup commitments earlier in the season had forced a change of date.

Victory would move Mark Hughes' side above ninth-place Spurs and level on points with Reading, who will only be overhauled as well if Rovers win by six clear goals.

Watford know they will remain bottom whatever happens, but victory, which would be only their second in the Premiership this season, would move them to within four points of Charlton, who are due at Vicarage Road soon.

Hughes knows Watford will be feisty opponents but is confident his side can build on the emphatic victory against Manchester City last Saturday.

He said: ``Our performances away from home have been excellent. We have a good mix among our squad. However, we have experience of going to teams who are struggling at the wrong end of the table and come a cropper.

``We don't want that to happen again. We are in better shape for this game than we were against Charlton and West Ham.

``Watford are a wounded animal and are difficult to break down.

``You have to keep going as they have great desire and great perseverance. Nobody has torn them to pieces.''

Hughes is coming to terms with the loss of central defender Andre Ooijer for the remainder of the season.

The Holland international had a successful operation after suffering a broken leg and damaging ankle ligaments in the victory at Manchester City.

Hughes said: ``It is a blow to us all. We are all disappointed for Andre. He has been a real influence for us both on and off the field. He has brought a winning mentality to the club and is a guy of great experience. We have been benefited from that.

``His day to day work has been excellent. He doesn't allow his standards or those around him to drop. The operation went well and once his body heals he will back.''

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