Watford's French stopper Younes Kaboul picked up a knock in training this week and is fighting an uphill battle to make the cut for Sunday's clash with the Stoke City.
Manager Walter Mazzari said: "He stopped training for a couple of sessions due to a knock. At the moment there is some doubt about Kaboul."
Other absentees
The Italian is also still without fellow centre-half Craig Cathcart, who is still nursing the groin problem which has kept him out for the best part of two months. Other long term absentee Isaac Success is close to a return but Sunday’s game look like it will come too soon for he frontman.
Chelsea loanee Kenedy is still out but would be unlikely to feature, as it looks ever more likely he will return to Chelsea in January. The versatile defender has found game time extremely hard to come by and will want to look elsewhere to get some much needed minutes.
Holebas returns
Watford will be able to welcome back Jose Holebas, who was suspended for the win over Leicester City last week. The wing back is likely to replace Juan Camilo Zuniga, who missed training this week with a slight knock.
Mazzari said: "We have Holebas who has been doing very well, and the only issue is that Zuniga hasn’t been training with the team for around three days. He could be a doubt."
Kabesele or Mariappa?
Watford will be hoping that Kaboul is fit, as his partnership with Miguel Britos and Sebastian Prodl has flourished in recent weeks. If he doesn't make it then Mazzari will decide between Christian Kabesele or Adrian Mariappa as to who will replace him.
The Hornets can go as high as sixth with a win on Sunday and they meet a Stoke side who are coming off the back of a disappointing defeat at home to Bournemouth.