By Gareth James

Mick McCarthy reckons Cardiff City are facing an acid test in their promotion hopes – but insists he will not be fooled by injury doubts surrounding Watford striker Troy Deeney.

The Bluebirds face second-placed Hornets at home on Saturday with McCarthy knowing victory would be a huge boost to his side.

Watford are expected to be without influential skipper Deeney who has not played since suffering an achilles injury on February 6.

But McCarthy said: “I don’t believe anything I hear or read until I get the team sheet before kick-off!

“I have got no interest in what anyone says about their team.

“I have had 1,000 games and I’ve had so many times people trying to pull your leg.

“I’ve even asked players who know the opposition and they pull the wool over their eyes.”

City go into the game on the back of the 11-game unbeaten run since McCarthy took over, winning eight of them.

And they have racked up 11 goals in their last three home games, including successive 4-0 demolitions of Preston then Derby.

McCarthy’s side have also had a slightly longer break since last Friday’s draw at Huddersfield which left the eighth, four points off the play-offs.

They are 12 points behind Watford who are battling for the other automatic promotion spot alongside runaway leaders Norwich City.

“If we could beat Watford here, second in the table, playing well and the ability to grind it out and have good flair players, that puts us in a great position,” added McCarthy.

“It would give us a whole lot more confidence too.

“We have been playing their opponents, they have been playing who are going to be our opponents. They’ve some really good players, back from the Premier League.

“They are in good form and a really good position. It’ll be one of our toughest games, this.”