Talking ahead of the second of three matches in the space of a week for Watford, Head Coach Valérien Ismaël indicated patience will be required when he and his staff make decisions on some player availability.
“Of course we want to keep the availability high among the squad and that’s my big message to them,” he said.
“But not all the players are at the same level of fitness so we have to find the right balance with the staff.”
A good example of this is defender Jamal Lewis, who reported understandably stiff and sore after his Hornets’ debut against Birmingham City on Saturday – the left-footer having missed a chunk of pre-season due to a calf complaint.
The versatile Ken Sema is set for a short spell on the sidelines, though, having picked up a muscle injury within the two lots of 90 minutes he played for Sweden during the recent international break.
Ismael noted: “It kept him out of Saturday and we were hoping it was very minor and he’d be back with us but we’ve done a scan and it’s going to be a couple of weeks now.”
In positive news, Vakoun Bayo is available for tomorrow night’s West Bromwich Albion clash (Wednesday September 20, 7.45pm KO), and fellow striker Rhys Healey is now also back in full training with the squad.
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