Watford could be boosted by the return of injury victim Craig Cathcart with the defender due back in training by the middle of the month.

Cathcart has been sidelined since September with a groin injury but the Northern Ireland defender is expected to be back in the frame by the middle of December.

Head coach Walter Mazzarri said: “Cathcart from what I know should be back by mid December so we still have another 15 days in order for him to be back.

“But then of course we need to understand when he’s back what his condition is in order to play immediately.”