Stefano Okaka's time out is over after Javi Gracia confirmed the forward is available for selection while praising his "perfect" triumvirate of strikers.

The burly centre-forward's Watford career looked to be all but over after it was revealed he was being allowed to look for a new club and had been absent from training.

However, Okaka has since returned to the first team fold and Javi Gracia hopes he, along with Troy Deeney and Andre Gray, can score the goals to fire Watford to Premier League survival.

"All three players are available and I am sure they will score many goals for the rest of the season. I trust in them," Gracia said.

"Troy is perfect, Okaka also and Andre Gray as well.

"I am very happy with all the players, but the strikers as well. The players who didn't play all the games, but their attitude is very important off the pitch as well."

Having fallen out of favour under Marco Silva, Okaka openly agitated for a move away from Vicarage Road in January.

His desire to leave attracted attention from clubs around Europe but no move could be agreed before the transfer window shut.

Okaka's last appearance came in the 1-0 FA Cup defeat at St Mary's and his place in Watford's 18 has been filled by an Under-23 player in recent weeks.

This decision to leave him out of matchday squads was, Gracia confirmed, one taken out of the Watford head coach's control.

The Spaniard says he has been impressed with the manner in which Okaka has acquitted himself in recent weeks and feels the 28-year-old is ready to make an impact.

"One day he was out and the next I spoke with the club and he was available. It is not about me," he said.

"I think he is a good player and, for me, his attitude has been very good. I think he is in a better physical condition than one or two weeks ago and I am happy with him."

Okaka, if he features against Everton on Saturday, will be tasked with getting a Hornets side short on goals firing.

They have failed to score in four of their last five games - the anomalous result coming with a 4-1 thumping of Chelsea - and looked short on attacking ideas in defeat to West Ham last time out.

A lack of goals is in part down to Gracia's desire to get his defensive house in order before working on matters further up the pitch.

Gracia now feels he has laid the foundations of a solid side and can begin to look at improving Watford going forward.

"I think now the team has a good balance playing with three or four at the back," he said. "I have confidence in the next matches that we will be more aggressive and improve."