SHAUN Hutchinson will miss Millwall’s attempt to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup as he recovers from a calf tear.
Jake Cooper is likely to continue alongside Byron Webster in the centre of Millwall’s defence, while Jed Wallace is also in contention to start.
Wallace is looking forward to the test against the Premier League side and admitted he wasn’t surprised to see the Lions overcome AFC Bournemouth 3-0 in the last round.
“No, not at all. When I was at Wolves we played Crawley in the League Cup and they came to Molineux and played out of their skin,” he said. “Same when I was at Portsmouth, against Morecambe, Barnet, these clubs come to Fratton Park in front of a big crowd, it’s the same thing.
“It’s not going to be easy for Watford, we’re going to make sure of that. You see Liverpool and Plymouth (drawing 0-0), there probably isn’t as much a gap as people think.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Millwall boss Neil Harris will also be without striker Harry Smith, who has a dead leg. Harris admitted it will be difficult to predict how Watford will line up.
“I think Watford will be looking to come and win the game, that’s for sure,” Harris said. “Certainly the manager will be picking a team to do that.
“I’m sure their manager will pay us respect after our victory over Bournemouth. But his main focus will be staying in the Premier League this year and they play Arsenal the Tuesday afterwards.
“So do I expect changes? Yeah, I’d imagine so because they’ve got a talented squad and a lot of foreign players that have come over to England and performed well.
“Whatever eleven they put out on the pitch is going to make it a really tough fixture.
“They’ve a different style of play to Bournemouth. They can keep it and pass it well, but they’ve also got a very big side. They cause teams problems aerially and from set-pieces and they can physically compete.
“It’s got the makings of a really good cup tie.”
Watford made six changes from their pervious league fixture to the side that defeated Burton 2-0 in the third round.
Walter Mazzarri has signed Mauro Zarate from Fiorentina but the former West Ham striker must finish serving a three-match ban he picked up in the Coppa Italia.
Watford have also reached an agreement to sign M’Baye Niang on loan from AC Milan, but he is more likely to make his debut against Arsenal on Tuesday.
Millwall record against AFC Watford:
Played: 100
Won 41 Drawn 27 Lost 32
Form guide:
Millwall: WDWDD
Watford: LLWDD
Probable Millwall team:
4-4-2: Archer; Cummings, Webster, Cooper, Craig; Onyedinma Thompson, Williams, O’Brien; Gregory, Morison.
Match odds:
Millwall 9/5 Draw 23/10 Watford 6/4