GIVE ’EM WAT FOR Keeper Foster says Hornets must restart with all guns blazing in bid for survival
BEN FOSTER has told Watford to come back “all guns blazing” for their countdown to survival.
Manager Nigel Pearson (below) inherited a rock-bottom side in December that was seven points adrift of safety. But the Hornets had scrambled out of the Premier League quicksands on goal difference when the music stopped in March.
Pearson’s experience, former England keeper Foster’s enduring agility – which has earned him a new two-year contract at 37 – flying winger Ismaila Sarr’s form and skipper Troy Deeney’s goals have given Watford a fighting chance of staying up.
They were rocked when Deeney opted out of Project Restart’s first phase because of health concerns for his fivemonth-old son, who has had breathing difficulties, and when defensive stalwart Adrian Mariappa tested positive for coronavirus last month.
But Foster believes the Hornets are ready for battle, starting with the home game with Leicester a week on Saturday. He said: “We’ve got to hit the ground running, that’s for sure.
“I really believe we can get up to midtable if we come back all guns blazing and get three wins on the bounce.
“All of a sudden, we go from 17th to mid-table, as it’s that tight between six or seven teams. It’s massive we get off to a good start.
“I can’t wait. It’s been a long time away and we’ve been training hard since we’ve been back, so we are ready to play now.”
Foster, speaking to the club website, admits the mystery of ‘ghost games’ with no fans admitted will present a different challenge, but he added: “The lads have come back in great shape, their body fat is low and they look supremely fit.
“Now we are ready for the action to start.
“It will be weird playing games behind closed doors but, at the same time, the unknown brings excitement.
“It won’t be the same for the fans or players, but I want to assure them that we’ll be giving it everything and we know they’ll be right behind us.
“We can’t wait to see them again when it’s safe to do so. But this is how it is right now, so we’ve got to make sure when they are allowed back to games, they are coming back to watch Premier League football.”
After securing Foster’s services until 2022, Watford remain in talks with Jose Holebas, Heurelho Gomes and Mariappa about their futures – but the trio have agreed short-term contract extensions to cover the remainder of the delayed Premier League season.
A club statement said discussions were continuing with the players over the next step as they approach the end of their current deals.
Mariappa, 33, has made 18 appearances for Watford this season, fellow defender Holebas, 35, has played 13 times this term, while 39-year-old keeper Gomes has made only three appearances in the League Cup.
The Brazilian had decided to retire 12 months ago to become a pastor, but he was encouraged to stay at Vicarage Road for another year to help his teenage compatriot, Joao Pedro, settle in England.
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Watford 2 Brighton 0 Burnley 1 Watford 3 Watford 2 Palace 1 Watford 2 Tottenham 1
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Watford 0 Brighton 3 Everton 1 Watford 0 Watford 1 West Ham 3 Newcastle 1 Watford 1