The Hornets will be forced to do without 10 injured first-team players tomorrow afternoon [Monday January 2, 3pm KO] at Norwich City.
Tom Dele-Bashiru sustained ankle ligament damage in a challenge at Swansea and is set for a spell of at least a couple of months on the sidelines.
It adds to an extraordinary list of midfielders currently in the treatment room; contact injuries during matches accounting for more than half of those.
In total, 11 players are unavailable to Watford Head Coach Slaven Bilić, as Hassane Kamara serves the second of a four-game suspension.
“Like I said after Swansea, there is no use crying about our situation,” said Bilić.
“Is it unusual? Very, of course. It's a crazy situation.
“We had our centre-backs out at the same time, now it is midfielders - and not just one or two, nearly everyone we have.
“We are hoping to have some players coming back for us later this month then more in February. For now, let's fight for something from every game.”
Bilić added: “The players who play tomorrow know they must give our supporters everything with their performance and that is what we are focusing on. Nothing else.”
Neither of the January new arrivals - Ismaël Koné and Matheus Martins - are eligible to feature at Carrow Road tomorrow.
