Middlesbrough vs Watford. Premier League.
Riverside StadiumAttendance28,131.
Sunday 16 October 2016 13:42, UK
Middlesbrough midfielder Grant Leadbitter remains on the sidelines as Aitor Karanka's side welcome Watford to the Riverside Stadium, live on Nissan Super Sunday.
The 30-year-old is currently working his way back to full fitness following hernia surgery but is not yet ready to return to action.
Meanwhile, Isaac Success, who scored his first goal for the club prior to the international break in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, is set to feature.
Walter Mazzarri has also been boosted by the news defender Miguel Britos is expected to be available following a groin injury as Watford look to get back to winning ways against Boro.
Karanka has seen all his international players return unscathed as he plots Premier League victory over Watford.
Karanka will run the rule over the men who did duty with their countries during the break, paying particular attention to Uruguay duo Gaston Ramirez and Cristhian Stuani following their lengthy journeys, but he has reported no fresh injury concerns.
Younes Kaboul could continue in central defence as Craig Cathcart remains out with a groin injury, while midfielder Valon Behrami is a minor doubt with an undisclosed knock. Daryl Janmaat (shoulder) is still out.
Middlesbrough are without a win in their last five league games against Watford, drawing two and losing three.
Watford have found the back of the net in 15 of their last 16 league clashes with Middlesbrough.
At the Riverside, Middlesbrough have suffered just one defeat in their last five league meetings with the Hornets (W2 D2).
Troy Deeney has found the back of the net in each of the Hornets' last four meetings with Middlesbrough.
Overall, Deeney has scored six times against Middlesbrough for Watford - only against Leeds United has he scored as many (also six) for the Hornets.
Deeney has netted 99 goals in all competitions for Watford. Only Luther Blissett, Tommy Barnett, Ross Jenkins and Cliff Holton have previously reached the century for the club.
Since the start of last season, none of Watford's 44 Premier League games have seen them start more than two English players.
Middlesbrough have lost a league-high seven points from leading positions in the Premier League this season.
Only once before have Middlesbrough had fewer points after their opening seven games of a Premier League season ( five points in 2006/07 when they still finished in 12th place).
Watford have conceded a league-high six headed goals in the top-flight this season, while only Crystal Palace (six) and West Ham (five) have scored more headers than Middlesbrough (four).
This will be only the fourth time in Premier League history that Watford have played an away match on a Sunday, but they have lost their previous three and failed to score on each occasion (conceding 10 goals).
It depends which Watford turns up - the one that beat Man Utd or the one that was poor against Burnley.
They let in goals and score plenty, and there's not bundles between the two teams in terms of quality, so I think it will be an entertaining draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)
Middlesbrough are 23/20 favourites with Sky Bet for Sunday's Premier League clash with 5/2 outsiders Watford.
It's 9/4 to end all square at the Riverside. Both teams have scored in Boro's last four games, and it's 5/6 for that run to continue here (5/6 it doesn't).
Alvaro Negredo and Jordan Rhodes head the first goalscorer betting at 5/1, with Watford's Deeney 6/1 and Odion Ighalo a fraction bigger at 13/2
