VITALWATFORD's Weekend Surgery

With 1 week to go before kick off, Dr Watford runs a quick eye over the latest walking wounded in the Watford camp.

Tommy Smith - Wrap that Smith lad in cotton wool - hamstring pull, thigh strain, rib injury, hayfever - you name it, Tom`s had it in pre-season and still didn`t make the squad for the MK Dons game. Hasn`t played since Borehamwood and looks less and less likely to be ready for Wolves.

Rinaldi - Brazilian`s don`t get injured! Douglas sustained a hamstring pull against Borehamwood which saw him miss the entire Germany tour. Gave up his seat to John Jo O`Toole on the plane but was back on the bench at Stadium:MK.

Clarke Carlisle - Sat out the Maccabi game with a minor hip problem but was back in commanding form against MK Dons. Looks likely to start at Molineux.

Damien Francis - Is currently undergoing rehabilitation. When I was a kid and I was in rehab after having my tonsils out, I got to eat ice cream covered in hundreds and thousands all day. Francis has undergone surgery on his cruciate ligaments injury sustained at home to Man City and will be out for "months rather than weeks"…That`s a lot of Ben and Jerry`s!

Richard Lee - The keepers illness set the alarm bells ringing in the Watford medical team after all the problems with 'Blizzard & The amazing undiagnosable mystery disease` last season. Rich probably had a cold.

Darius Henderson - Suffering from the indignity of being 1 of 290 strikers linked with a move to Sheff Wed. Then sat out the last day of training in Germany with a heel injury. Doris got a 10 minute run out on Wednesday night in the 0-0 draw with MK Dons.

Danny Shittu - Plagued by speculation that he`s due to leave for pastures new but according to the official site, didn`t make the MK Dons squad 'through injury`. The 'Good ship Boothroyd` has said he should 'play a part over this weekend` though.
We`ll see.

Johan Cavalli - Pint sized winger wasn`t in the touring party then missed the Wingate friendly with a niggling hamstring.

Moses Ashikodi - Doesn`t a fractured tibula sound painful? My legs gone numb just writing it. Andy Rolls, Head of Watford Medical Team, says he`s a couple of months away. I trust Andy, he`s a proper doctor.

Gareth Williams - Progressing well as he recovers from cruciate ligament damage after a heavy challenge in training. Spent the summer locked in a darkened room at the Vic going through physio…At least he kept out of the rain!

Adrian Mariappa - Mr 'Not quite as good as Doyley` pulled up at Borehamwood and has missed quite a chunk of the training in Germany. Will probably still feature at Wolves even if rated as 'walking wounded` as Aidy is unlikely to drop him!

Junior Osbourne - Out for an entire year and then finds himself 3rd choice in the pecking order to be right back. Back in full training but a lot of work ahead of him to get into the first team plans.