Getty
7 May 2013
Gianfranco Zola is confident Manuel Almunia will be fit for Watford’s play-off semi-final against Leicester after the goalkeeper missed Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Leeds.
Almunia tweaked his hamstring in the warm-up and was replaced by youngster Jonathan Bond, who was himself taken off with a facial injury in the first half.
Zola was then forced to give a senior debut to third-choice goalkeeper Jack Bonham, 19.
Watford go to Leicester for the first leg on Thursday, and Zola said: “Almunia did not feel right and it did not feel right to play him.
“He could have come off after a few minutes and he could have missed all of the play-offs. We are hopeful that he will be back.”
