Ken Sema and Imrân Louza may be fit for a full 90 minutes in Monday’s clash with West Bromwich Albion (February 20, 8pm KO), but Tom Cleverley faces a further spell on the sidelines having injured his thigh in the warm-up against Burnley.
Sema started the 1-1 draw in Lancashire in place of Cleverley and played 68 minutes in his second game since returning from a hamstring injury. Head Coach Slaven Bilić confirmed he no longer has to manage the Swede’s minutes, and can count on him from the beginning back at Vicarage Road.
“He didn’t struggle with the intensity of the second half against Blackburn, and Ken was planned to play half an hour, 45 minutes against Burnley,” Bilić explained. “But then when I heard Tom got injured in the warm-up, we put Ken on because he can play in midfield.
“I treat Ken now as a fit player, no question marks there. The reason he went off was it was impossible in a match of that magnitude for him to last for the full game, but Ken is a fit player.”
Cleverley was set to make a first start since August having spent nearly six months on the sidelines with an Achilles injury, but “felt a pop” in his thigh during the warm-up, and now faces several weeks out.
“It’s not a major one that requires surgery but it’s not a couple of weeks,” said Watford boss Bilić. “They’re talking about eight weeks, which is a big blow for us and him, but knowing him, he’s an incredibly strong character and he’ll be back.”
Louza last started a game for the Golden Boys back in October against Millwall, suffering a knee injury at the Den. Returning against Blackburn and featuring again off the bench at Turf Moor, Bilić will assess the Moroccan over the next three days before deciding whether to start the midfielder or not against the Baggies.
“The plan for Imrân was to start against West Brom,” Bilić added. “That requires some minutes against Blackburn to break the ice, and some minutes against Burnley. We will see how he reacts to three days of training, and hopefully he will be fit to start the game.”
Craig Cathcart is making good progress in his recovery from a groin strain. Monday will come too soon for the defender, but he hopes to be back in training next week.
Longer-term absentees continue to make progress, including Jeremy Ngakia, who suffered a hamstring injury in training last month, with fellow right-back João Ferreira also out.
The same goes for Tom Dele-Bashiru, Samuel Kalu and Edo Kayembe, who have ankle, hamstring and calf injuries respectively.
Francisco Sierralta is recovering following surgery on his fifth metatarsal earlier this month, and Dan Gosling is continuing rehabilitation for the Achilles injury suffered before the World Cup break against Bristol City.
