Watford will be without Ismaila Sarr for their Championship curtain raiser against Middlesbrough on Friday.

The Senegal winger has been the subject of interest from several clubs during the brief summer break, but the Hornets remain keen to hold onto him and are only willing to entertain substantial offers.

Nevertheless, the 22-year-old has only recently returned from Senegal and is yet to begin working with the team.

Speaking to the press for the first time, new head coach Vladimir Ivic confirmed that the club's record-signing would miss the opening match, but hopes to have him at his disposal soon.

"He's back and he's here and I hope in the next few days he will start to work with the team. He will not be available for Middlesbrough," he said.

Sarr joins a list of other absentees, who are set to miss the match through injury.

That list includes those with long-term injuries like Daryl Janmaat (knee) Isaac Success (achilles) and Gerard Deulofeu, although the club have said Deulofeu is expected to return to training soon.

The former Barcelona man is still hoping to secure a move away from the club before the end of the transfer window.

Elsewhere, Troy Deeney will miss the game after undergoing rehabilitation work throughout pre-season.

Ivic said he hoped the skipper would stay for the next season, but knows that there is every chance he could depart before the end of the transfer window.

"Troy was with us in the first few days," he said. "After he moved out because of some small problem he had in his knee. We hope that in the next few days he will be with us and he will continue to work and he will prepare himself for the Championship. If something happens during the transfer window, we'll see. He's the most experienced player here and he's a player who was here for the last ten years, he gave a lot for the club and all of us knows what he can give to the club when he's ready."

Andre Gray and Will Hughes are both expected to be out for at least two more weeks, while the injury Adam Masina sustained during the Hornets' win over Scunthorpe means he will be unavailable for several months.

The club have also confirmed that Etienne Capoue, Roberto Pereyra and Danny Welbeck are also unavailable.