Town's injury crisis has improved slightly ahead of Saturday's home clash with Watford (KO noon), with John McGreal and Drissa Diallo likely to be in contention for a place in the side. Richard Naylor is considered a worry due to his toe injury but will play if fit.

Definitely out of the squad are Martijn Reuser (knee), Pablo Couñago (hamstring), Chris-Bart-Williams (back), Georges Santos (nose) and Chris Makin (hip).

McGreal and Diallo both trained on Thursday, although the Guinean is not yet able to head the ball. The former Burnley man will have his stitches out before the weekend when he may be considered.

There were thoughts of Diallo playing at Walsall but in the end concerns that he might open the cut on his head up even further meant that he was left out.

Chris Bart-Williams is expected to get back to training on Friday but will not be included for the Watford game.

Central defender Georges Santos may also be involved in Friday's session, his nose injury now not considered as bad as was first thought. The Frenchman is still suffering with headaches and there is some bending to the bone but no break.

Alun Armstrong came through 45 minutes of Wednesday's friendly with Cambridge University and is in consideration for Saturday's game.

Royle was pleased with the Naylor-Elliott central defensive partnership at the Bescot Stadium: “Richard Naylor did us a great favour by playing and is a lot sorer for doing it, but don't rule him out yet. We're not giving up on Richard yet and if he's fit he'll play.

“I thought they did very well as a pair. Defensively we had few problems and the goal we conceded was a freekick from outside the box and I wouldn't blame either centre-half for it. I thought we were sensible the other night and we've not been able to say that too often.”

The Town boss says his side have simply got to keep grabbing three points to get themselves in the play-offs: “We need to keep winning now. We've done it the hard way; we were out of it, we were in it, then we've slipped out of it, but going into Saturday's game we're four points off third.

“It's up to ourselves. You can't take anything for granted in this division, but we did win at Watford after being behind. It would be nice to put in a good performance and win comfortably. But it's never easy, they've got Heidar Helguson up front who's a handful. It's a winnable game but they all are to us.”

Watford have brought in Southampton full-back Chris Baird on loan, while earlier this month they took Paul Mayo, reported to be a Town target back in 2002, from Lincoln on a permanent transfer. Former Blue Wayne Brown is currently on loan at Colchester United.

Ray Lewington's side were without defenders Neil Cox, Marcus Gayle and Jack Smith when they beat Derby 2-1 on Tuesday, although striker Heidar Helguson returned after suspension to net the first goal.

Saturday's referee is Paul Robinson from East Yorkshire. He has shown 69 yellow cards and seven red in 24 games this season. He last reffed Town in the 1-0 home defeat to Gillingham last season.

Likely squad (16 from): Davis, Price, Wilnis, Richards, Mitchell, Naylor, Elliott, McGreal, Diallo, Magilton, Miller, Wright, Westlake, Bent, Bowditch, Kuqi, Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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