Nicky Law looks likely to unleash stand-in striker Andy Tod on Watford.

The City manager is adamant that he is not prepared to play a negative five in midfield on the tough trip to Vicarage Road, preferring instead to throw another emergency striker into the mixer.

The Scottish defender has helped out at the front before, but it will be a daunting task for the 31-year-old, who has played just one reserve game in recent weeks due to injury.

"Using Andy Tod as a striker is looking very possible," said Law, who has been unable to rustle up a striker during the busy pre-Christmas period.

"It will be a tough call for him, as all he has under his belt is 80 minutes of a reserve game and a practice match, but we might have to throw him in.

"Obviously it was a blow losing Delroy (Facey). I thought he was outstanding last week and we would have liked to keep him on. So we have had to look at our options here and Tod looks like the best bet."

Law could have opted for leaving Andy Gray, himself a stand-in striker, on his own up front and packing the midfield, but the manager is trying to keep things positive.

"We are going to go there and be positive," said Law. "One thing about Watford that we have picked up is that they like to play football but don't like it too much when things are getting a bit tough.

"Playing with five in midfield would show the wrong intention. We will be looking to go in there and scrap for everything.

"But we are not going to go down there and go crazy for ten minutes and wear ourselves out, but we will be sensible and settle into a hard-working 90 minutes of football.

"After the win last week things have been very positive at training and we will be looking to go in and get something from this game."

City begin a tough festive run of four games in 12 days with the trip down the M1 tomorrow, and 'six-pointers' against Stoke and Grimsby follow straight after.

And Law knows that it will be tough without recognised strikers, but will be looking for a repeat of last week's battling performance that earned him an important win against Nottingham Forest.

"It is better to be going to a place like Watford on the back of three points and not on a record-equalling losing run," added Law.

Wayne Jacobs returns from suspension and will be available after playing in yesterday's behind-closed-doors practice game at Bolton's training ground.