Head coach Tom Cleverley has warned his Watford players to expect Leeds United to try and "suffocate" them of possession at Vicarage Road tonight.

The Hornets host the Championship leaders looking to halt a four-match winless run and get their promotion bid back on track.

Despite their poor recent run of form, Watford are still only three points off the play-off spots. Cleverley said: “The best teams usually bring out strong performances from us, we rise to that challenge.

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“We’ve played two really good games of football against Leeds since I’ve been in charge and I expect another one. They are the most in control team in the division, no doubt about that. They try suffocating you of possession and with the ball they have a lot of control and quality.

“To lose what he did in the summer and maintain this level is a really impressive job from Daniel Farke.”

United rested almost their entire team on Saturday as Millwall dumped them out of the FA Cup. The chances are Farke will revert to his strongest XI for tonight's meeting as the Whites seek to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Cleverley, who has confirmed Rocco Vata is available for selection after recovering from illness, hopes his side can build on the encouraging performance they produced in Saturday's entertaining draw at Sunderland. “I’m wanting us to ride a bit of a wave of the performance from Saturday,” Cleverley said.

“I said to you earlier in the season when there was an instance where we were the ones with fresher legs, it doesn’t always work that way. The shoe’s on the other foot this time and we have to have the mindset that it doesn’t work that way.

“Sometimes rhythm in football can be really powerful, and although we haven’t got a rhythm of results I feel we are getting consistency and rhythm of performance that will eventually bring us results. So I’m not reading too much into Leeds resting so many players.

“Leeds are a real seasoned team, they have got real good leaders, lots of quality, Premier League experience, and with that comes consistency and stability, so they are what we strive to be.

“We do have a real young, talented group, and it is about doing those details on a consistent basis that brings you long-term success.”