Team News: Stoke City

By: Watford FC Staff

Watford’s number nine is expected to make his return to the matchday squad this week, according to Vladimir Ivić.

The Hornets' Head Coach suggested Troy Deeney could be included as soon as Wednesday when the Hornets host Stoke City at Vicarage Road, but it is more likely he will come into contention for the Coventry fixture on Saturday.

The club captain missed pre-season through injury and only returned for a cameo off the bench against Luton Town before another setback delayed his recovery, but he is back stronger and could play a part in one of this week’s two home fixtures.

“Troy Deeney works hard and day by day he is in a better position,” said Ivić. “We have to see tomorrow how his situation is, and I believe that maybe Wednesday but if not, then Saturday he will be available to join the squad.

“He’s an important player, we know he’s a striker who scores, who knows movement and how to finish the action, and for sure he’s one of our important players. We’re waiting for him to come back because I’m sure he can help us.

“I gave him the space and time in this game [against Luton] because he worked with us before this game, but after that he felt again the same problem that he had, and he stayed out after this game for a period of about two weeks. After that he’s come back again and now he’s in the shape where he can help us in some part of the game.”

Andre Gray and Will Hughes both began their comebacks on Saturday’s trip to Barnsley, coming off the bench during the second half. With Étienne Capoue already reintegrated into the side and Hughes expected to feature more over the coming weeks, Ivić is relishing having a midfield at his disposal with experience playing together at the highest level.

“We know that in previous years the three midfield starters have been Étienne, Will Hughes and Doucouré. These players played most of the games, together with Tom Cleverley coming from the bench and playing some games, and Chalobah playing some games,” said the Head Coach.

“We know that now in the first part of the Championship, the players who play are guys who are playing for the first time [together] between them. Some of these are experienced players, like Cleverley and Chalobah.

“Will Hughes is a very important player, a quality player. He needs time to get back in his shape and to the level he has been at before, to give us what we expect from him, but he is a very important player.”

The Head Coach also confirmed Adam Masina’s return is pencilled in for “the end of January or beginning of February”, limiting his options until then in regards to the defensive line.

“I need to work with the squad that I have, to take from them 100 per cent, and try to find the player who can give me in this position something extra,” said Ivić.

“At the moment we have one player with a left foot. I think a lot about how we can use another system if we have one player who is not a typical left-back, he is more a full-back in a system of five?

“In my coaching career I play most of the time with four at the back, I don’t have a problem with five at the back and I’ve played sometimes with five, but I’ve said a lot of times that my job is to play the best system I can with the players I have.

“In this moment I believe we have the players for this system, but we’re without Masina who is a guy who can give us options.”

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