Selection headache for Watford manager Marco Silva

ByPA Sport

Published 18/08/2017 at 21:45 GMT

Watford boss Marco Silva has a tough decision to make on who will lead the line for his side at Bournemouth after being impressed by both skipper Troy Deeney and club-record signing Andre Gray.

Watford captain Troy Deeney is back in training following a groin injury

Image credit: PA Sport

Watford boss Marco Silva has a tough decision to make on who will lead the line for his side at Bournemouth after being impressed by both skipper Troy Deeney and club-record signing Andre Gray.

The Hornets travel to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday looking to build on an opening weekend draw at home to Liverpool.

Silva's first competitive game in charge ended in memorable fashion as defender Miguel Britos bundled in an injury-time equaliser against the Reds.

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Now he takes his side to the south coast with captain Deeney in contention for a return having recovered from a pre-season groin operation.

Gray, too, is in line to make his full debut after the former Burnley man came off the bench against Liverpool - and Silva has been pleased by the application of both strikers in training this week.

Asked whether Deeney was training with the rest of his team-mates, Silva said: "He has started normal training with the team since Tuesday.

"He is starting to come fit, he had one week of pre-season until last week and it is important now we get him fit again so he can show me his football and show everyone what he can do to help the team.

"How desperate is he? It is normal, it is not a good situation for a player when you have an injury like him. It was a small surgery so now he is able to work 100 per cent with the team and it is our job to get him fit and into the team.

"He works hard, that is normal, he is trying to show his football to me and that is important.

"What I have seen from him in the last few days is what I expect, a player to work hard and do his best every day and this is what I expect not from him but from all the players."

Silva explained that Gray's absence from the starting line-up last weekend was because he had only had two training sessions following his record move from Turf Moor.

But, like Deeney, Gray is looking ready to go - with Silva admitting he is yet to decide if either - or both - players come into his team.

"Of course now he has worked more time with the team," he said of Gray.

"He knows better what are our ideas and what we need and now is the moment I will take the decision I believe is the best for the match."

Silva will definitely be without trio Younes Kaboul, Daryl Janmaat and Roberto Pereyra, who all suffered muscular injuries against Liverpool.

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