Louza fit to face Norwich tomorrow after missing last game
Both Imran Louza and Jeremy Ngakia have shaken off ankle issues and are available to face Norwich tomorrow at Vicarage Road.
Louza missed the game totally at Coventry last weekend, while Ngakia was replaced at half-time.
With a few players ruled out longer term, and Kevin Keben getting fitter but not yet ready to play, having the pair avaiable again is a boost.
“Louza and Ngakia are both in contention,” sad Tom Cleverley.
“Jeremy’s ankle swelled a lot at half-time last weekend and Imran missed the game with an ankle issue, but both will be in contention.”
You have to go back to mid-December for the last time Watford didn’t play a game in midweek.
“I really do enjoy these Saturday-to-Saturday weeks where you can get some good quality time on the training pitch with the players,” said the head coach.
“Selfishly, that’s what I enjoy about the job. Everyone loves matchday but actually being able to work on things you’re trying to get out in the games is nice.
“The period we’ve had recently in between games has been rest, recovery, pick the team, dealing with a bit of other stuff and suddenly it’s all about matchday again.
“So I do enjoy these weeks where you can really focus on your job.
“It’s a big incentive to get to the promised land because there’s even more of that there with eight games less.
“But there’s still a lot to be said about the league we’re in, the chaotic nature of it and how enjoyable that can be.
“I’ve enjoyed this calmer week with some real quality time with the players though.”
One player that he would have been without this weekend because of injury, Festy Ebosele, had his loan cut short by Udinese who have since sold him to Turkish Süper Lig club Istanbul Başakşehir.
“Festy is a good lad and someone who will become a top player,” said the Watford boss.
“I let him know this to his face: his concentration through the week and on matchdays, he just needs to focus more.
“He has an unbelievable set of tools. His pace, he’s genuinely two footed and I think one day Festy will have an exciting career.
“He just needs to really knuckle down and focus on his work through the week and his concentration levels.
“No complaints about him as a character at all though.”
