Defensive Duties

ALAN Pardew has backed the young members of his squad to help the team secure that prized Play-off place this weekend.

Christian Dailly, Malky Mackay and Don Hutchison all played in the Reserves this week, but with Pards revealing that the trio are still short of match fitness, he is confident his young guns can handle what will be the biggest test of their fledgling careers.

"Our young players have been fantastic this season," he exclaimed. "It will be the Play-offs before Christian is fit enough to come back. He's thrown himself back in and did well to come through the Reserve game in midweek, so hopefully he will be fit by the middle of next week.

"Malky is closer but he won't be available for Sunday. They're both important players for us and it'll be good to get them back.

"But Elliott and Anton are part of the reason why we are challenging for the Play-offs at the moment. Their performances this season solved what was a real problem for us at centre-half and no one could question their contribution to the team.

"Injuries have been a real problem this season, especially in the back four where it's been difficult to keep a settled line-up.

"Anton and Elliott have been tremendous in eight League games and are entitled the odd error of judgement. But they're aware they have made an error. We've talked about making the pitch smaller at Watford, holding a solid line and Elliott and Anton both have the ability and strength of character to put in good displays on Sunday."

Pards is also quick to praise the maturity shown by his 20-year-old centre-halves as they have fielded the pressure of West Ham United's promotion challenge, producing some accomplished performances along the way.

"I think they have both handled themselves extremely well," insisted Alan. "They are both inexperienced, but they're learning very quickly and they've shown this season in games like the one against Wigan that they can handle the best forward lines in this League.

"Elliott had a tough year with injury last season, but he has shown tremendous determination to come through that and make this a could season for him.

"Anton wasn't involved in the Play-offs either last season, so this is really new territory for them both. But I'm certainly not thinking about leaving them out because they are inexperienced. They've had some big games for us this season, they've helped us into our best form of the season and they have what it takes to handle the situation on Sunday."