By Tim Robertson
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Being without your best goalkeeper to face an in-form Wayne Rooney sounds like a recipe for disaster.

So spare a thought for Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd who takes his team -- minus Ben Foster -- to Manchester United knowing that not only will Rooney be waiting for him, but Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha are set to return for the Reds as well.

Rooney had scored just one goal in 13 games until the Red Devils travelled to Arsenal last week. Although United lost at the Emirates Stadium, Rooney’s goal in the 2-1 defeat served as a catalyst for an even better performance on Saturday, when he came off the bench to score twice and see off Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
Rooney’s second goal -- an audacious chip over the unsighted David James from outside the area -- summed up his precocious talent and will have had opposition managers up and down the country cringing in fear at the thought that he is back to his best.

And none will have been cringing more than Boothroyd, who takes his last-placed Hornets team to Manchester on Wednesday.

It has been a good week for Watford, who beat Blackburn 2-1 to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding relegation before going to West Ham and snatching a 1-0 win in the FA Cup.

But on Wednesday, they will be without talented shotstopper Foster, who is on loan from United and cannot play against his parent club under Premiership rules.
Foster, 23, has been outstanding all season, and his form has been good enough for Sir Alex Ferguson to promise him a return to the Old Trafford first-team set-up next season.

"Without question, Ben will come back here," said Ferguson. "All we have done in terms of the goalkeeping situation is identify really good talent and secure their future. We know Ben has a good future in the game. He is doing well at Watford and, at his age, has everything in front of him, because I believe him to be England's best young goalkeeper."

Saturday’s 1-0 win at Upton Park has done wonders for confidence at Vicarage Road as it comes on the back of the Blackburn win, but any sense of momentum is wiped out on Wednesday.

"You have got to ask the question -- would you prefer a cup run or three points?” Boothroyd said. "Both is the answer. This win gives us a big lift. I think we are improving as a team, and I hope the FA Cup gives our season a shot in the arm."

Watford are +1200 on WagerWeb to beat United -- realistic odds as Ferguson prepares to welcome back his best player of the season so far -- Ronaldo.
Ferguson chose to give the winger a short break after a gruelling season, but expects him to be fresh for what could be a make-or-break spell for United’s title hopes as they face one of there most testing set of fixtures so far this season.

In the coming weeks, United must travel to both Tottenham and Liverpool, and are also due at Stamford Bridge in April.

"Cristiano played in the third-placed playoff for Portugal at the World Cup in Germany, and he has been playing for us all season," Ferguson said. "We have been looking at ways to preserve the players and felt this was a great time to give him a week's holiday. He has enjoyed it and hopefully we will get the benefit of it in the weeks ahead."

Rooney and Ronaldo, back together, back in form? Not even Foster could save Watford.

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