Micky Mellon urges Tranmere to put prospect of facing Manchester United to one side for FA Cup replay with Watford

Tranmere Rovers manager Micky Mellon has urged his side to focus on the sizeable challenge of ­Watford in the FA Cup on Friday and put aside the tantalising prospect of facing Manchester United.

Rovers battled back from 3-0 down at Vicarage Road to claim a 3-3 draw and ensure a third-round replay at Prenton Park, where they will welcome Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side on Sunday if they upset the odds against Watford.

In the League One side’s favour is that this will be Watford’s third game in the space of six days and manager Nigel Pearson may opt to make changes with his side ­desperate to preserve their Premier League status.

However, Mellon argued that whoever takes the field, in a tie that was rescheduled for tonight ­because of a waterlogged pitch last week, will be no pushovers.

Mellon said: “They’re a very good side, regardless of whoever is going to play. At the end of the day, the 11 that they bring in, they’re 11 Premier League players.

“We all know the prize. But you can’t affect who you have in the next round, you’ve got a job to do in that moment. Something that you encourage a team to focus on is the now.”

Watford’s Brazilian teenager Joao Pedro is expecting Tranmere to produce another never-say-die performance. “We know this game will be tough,” the forward said. “I think they will have hope, like in the last game.”

Midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah is a doubt after a hip problem forced him off during the closing stages on Tuesday night at Villa Park, where a stoppage-time 2-1 defeat saw ­Watford drop back into the ­relegation zone.

Forward Ismaila Sarr is another player unlikely to feature as he ­recovers from a hamstring issue.