Ward and Smart also fit for United's visit on Saturday

NORDIN WOOTER and possibly Tommy Mooney could make a dramatic return against the champions at Vicarage Road before a capacity crowd on Saturday.

Wooter has recovered from his ankle injury and has trained all week, while Mooney is chasing a place on the substitutes' bench after coming through Wednesday night's reserve game at Derby without any reaction.

There is also good news on the fitness of two others who have been doubtful all week. Darren Ward and Allan Smart returned to training on Thursday, both of whom picked up ankle injuries against Arsenal.

'Tommy Mooney has progressed very well over the last fortnight and is obviously desperate to get some Premiership football in over the last weeks,' he said.

'There are four games left and it has been frustrating for Tommy but we can't take short cuts. However, he did very well in the reserves and I cannot say at this stage whether he will be on the bench or not but he has definitely rejoined the squad for Saturday's game.'

Nick Wright is having a second opinion, seeing a knee specialist next Tuesday after having a week off resting the joint.

Peter Kennedy has had his ankle scanned and nothing in the way of damage has been revealed.

News of definite drop reaches boss on radio

WATFORD are down. The configuration of results on Monday meant the Hornets had suffered the long-anticipated guillotine.

Graham Taylor heard the news on the radio, driving back from watching the Fulham-Nottingham Forest game.

'I heard that we are definitely down over the radio. It was not a surprise in the sense that it has been coming,' said Taylor.

'You have made so many people happy 12 months ago, but you feel responsible for letting so many people down, a year later.

'You have to be in my position to know that it is very personal misery when things go badly and so much happiness when things go well.

'Yet, on the Tuesday last year after the Bolton game, I woke up and found that the rest of the world was going on as before. It was only our lives that were affected. This Tuesday, I awoke to find life is going on as normal once again.

'We have Manchester United, who are the champions, coming to us to take on Watford who are now relegated.

'That is it. You have to get on with it.'

Taylor will reflect more deeply in pubic on where things went wrong this season, when the final game is played.

'There will obviously be if only's and but's, which is the last thing you want, because you only say those words if things have not gone well.

'Some of the real frustration I feel as a manager is trying to reconcile how we played in the second half against Southampton and then in the second half against Arsenal.

'It is a little bit tiring to be complimented for our spirit, organisation and then lose the game. The plus on Sunday is that we could also be complimented for our ability. But we still lost.'

Taylor thinks tactically for visit of champions

TAYLOR will be approaching Manchester United's visit determined to give his side the best chance of winning and, at the same time, avoid an embarrassingly large defeat.

'The reality is that had we gone 4-4-2 against Arsenal, we could have lost by six or seven. So I looked for us to get tight,' he explained.

'If you risk losing the shape of the team by following Bergkamp, then that is what you have to do because if you leave him alone, he will hurt you with the ball.

'I tried to put us out in a manner that gave us a chance to win, but also made sure we were not embarrassed. So we have to get tight on people.

'Not for the first time this season, we have had 95 per cent of it right and lost the game. We are not as good as Arsenal over a season, but over 90 minutes, we can be. Their finishing was first class, but that was the only difference,' he said.

'I know it is the most important difference and that quality is there for people to see.'

Watford got it tactically right against the Gunners, but Taylor spent part of the second half trying to involve Tommy Smith more in the game.

'It was not intended for him to play outside left but he tended to play that in the second half. He found himself out on the left and less involved in the game. Heidar was more involved, whereas he was not in the first half,' he said.

Taylor was pleased with Paul Robinson's display, 'he did very well' and confirmed that Richard Johnson was dropped because of his continued indifferent form.

'Richard has been out of form and I think he would be the first to admit that. That was very much apparent at Southampton.

'We did get Richard on and we were looking to get him to have a shot in these conditions. But even talking about it three days after the event, I am disappointed. What gets me is that they do work hard but are they listening to what I am saying?'

United free to pick and choose for Saturday

WHILE there is increased speculation that United might field a second-string side on Saturday, Taylor will not criticise United if they do.

'Those are his decisions to make. They have won the championship so they are free to do what they want,' said Taylor.

'It is no different from us. We have been heading for relegation and we have put some youngsters in. In one respect, I hope they do not put a significantly weaker side out, because our supporters would want to see the top players appearing for the opposition. I hope he plays a good number of the regulars.

'But if he brings the younger boys in whose names are not known, then there are reasons for him to do that and I would not pass comment.

'They have won the championship and he has earned the right.'

United sources suggest that Ronnie Johnsen is likely to play, Jaap Stam has an Achilles problem and Cole is likely to return.

'I would be only guessing,' says my United opposite number. 'But I expect quite a number of the accepted first team will be playing. They are keen to score 100 goals this season and have ten to get in their last three games. Also three victories would give them the Premiership record for wins in a season.'

Praise for United from Watford boss

TAYLOR is not one of those who seek to knock Manchester United.

'What they have done is absolutely brilliant. It separates true champions from people who win things.

'They have won the title six out of eight and been runners up in other two.

'People say they are lucky or favoured or this or that. I am not interested in getting involved in that. Winning is one thing, winning again and again, is something else altogether.

'With success comes the critics and everyone wants them to fall. This comes as a result of people being the best. The neutral supports the underdog and almost every team they play are underdogs.

'They have become a big, big organisation - a massive brand. What was it two years back? A £693m offer from B Sky B and now the valuation is over a billion. They have 61,000 regular attendances. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world.

'Anyone who wants to down-play what they have achieved, well it is just envy and jealousy.'

Taylor does feel that there is a 'great exaggeration' of how much they are universally disliked, and he feels that impression is fostered at Old Trafford.

'They are far more popular than they want to believe themselves. I think the them and us philosophy serves them well,' said the Watford boss.

'Their success does bring about a goldfish-bowl existence, with every move checked and double checked. These are still young men in their early 20's and it is understandable they will fall the wrong side of line.

'I have always been sceptical that young professional footballers should be role models for the rest of us. Some of them aren't too long out of their nappies.

'Role models are or should be experienced politicians who decide on laws but politicians are quick to say how disgraceful it is if a footballer or film star is caught adversely in media spotlight. 'This is disgraceful,' they say. 'These should be role models.'

'But the role models should be the politicians themselves.

'We only have to think back to our 20's and the decisions we made and things we did and we can be a little bit embarrassed by the memory. Football stars are no different from the rest of us, but we make them different.

'On the other hand if you do become successful, you have to take some of the responsibilities and some of the nuisances that go with it.'

The end-of-season players-supporters 'get-together' will take place on Thursday, May 11, 7pm at the Watford Executive Club. Tickets are £15 per head.

Apply in person at ticket office from next Tuesday or by phone to Glen Calverley at the club on 01923 496281.