Team News: Blackburn Rovers

Ismaïla Sarr trained this morning, is available for selection to face Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night and is fully committed to the Watford cause, according to Head Coach Vladimir Ivić.

The club-record signing missed the trip to Derby County because he returned exhausted from international duty with Senegal, who put their squad through its paces with a double session after their game with Mauritania was cancelled.

Sarr had been scheduled to play some part against the Rams but the decision was taken, after consultation with the medical department, to leave the flying forward at home and avoid the risk of injury ahead of a packed fixture schedule.

“He is with us,” said Ivić. “He stayed out because he was tired from his trip and now he works normal and is available for the game. I discussed with him lots about his ability and he says he’s motivated and wants to be part of us. He’s one of the players who gives his maximum every day to the practice and I am satisfied he is with us now the window is closed. He is part of Watford and will show his quality and his potential. He is a fast player, who attacks the space and knows what to do one against one. He can give us different quality than other players.

“He is the guy who will show his potential and quality in the next games and to do it, he must work for the team because all of us work for the team. There is not one player in the world who can win the game: the team wins the game. Everyone needs to think how they can improve the team.”

Midfielders Étienne Capoue and Will Hughes are players who will certainly help raise the bar. Capoue missed Friday's game with an ankle problem while Hughes is working his way back to full fitness after undergoing a medical procedure during the summer.

“Capoue is okay,” said Ivić. “He worked normal [in training today] and I believe he is one of the players who will be available for the game. Will Hughes is working with us and is close to the moment when he will be part of the practise. He takes part in the practise now and I believe he will be available in the next two or three weeks. It is important after this injury that we are patient with him, take care of him as we want him healthy and able to work until the end of the season.”

William Troost-Ekong took a full part in training this morning and looks to have shaken off the slight problem he had in his left hamstring at Pride Park on Friday night. It appears a wise decision to replace him with Craig Cathcart with 20 minutes remaining of the game with Derby.

“I expect he'll be available for this game and to give us his best,” said the Head Coach. “He has quality and will help us for sure. We must be patient with him as he needs to adjust with new players. He needs to have information about the players and the players need to have information about him and his qualities. He is experienced and he'll adjust fast.”

Troy Deeney stepped up his return by taking a full part in the warm-up this morning before working away from the main group with Hughes.

“He starts to work with us this week,” said Ivić. “He is one player who missed a big part of the season and all of us want him to be ready. We continue to work on this project to prepare him as fast as possible. It is important not to hurry and sometimes when you hurry before they are ready, you can create a bigger problem for the future.”

Andre Gray, who scored 25 times during his last season in the Championship, is also well on the road to recovery after a hamstring problem.

“Gray is still out,” said Ivić. “We expect in the next few days he starts to work with team. He is in a good level of condition.”