Watford have received a significant squad boost ahead of hosting Burnley this weekend, with six players returning to training after the international break. Head coach Alessio Dionisi confirmed the news but stressed the group is not yet ready for a full match, presenting a mixed challenge for a Burnley side sitting 24th in the Championship with just four points from eight games. The Hornets' recent form shows a single win in their last five outings, making the return of players a critical factor for their fixtures ahead.
Soumaila Coulibaly, Jordan Zemura, Martin Payero, Omar Traore, Marc Bola and Travis Akomeah have all completed rehabilitation work and are back in contention. Dionisi praised the medical team, led by Dani Salazar, for their work in restoring the players to health. "The good news is we have a lot of players now, but they are not ready to play 90 minutes, because they work with us, from today, for three days [until the first match back]," the coach said. He added that having "two teams on the [training] pitch" is a positive step forward for squad depth, which is detailed in the club's full squad overview.
While six have returned, Watford will still be without Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah due to injury, with their returns not expected until after the next international break in November. The latest on these absentees can be found on the club's injuries page. New signing Krepin Diatta, who joined as a free agent after leaving AS Monaco, has completed his first full week of training but is also not considered ready for a full game, having not played competitively since the World Cup.
Dionisi now faces decisions on how to integrate the returning players, acknowledging the need for patience with a congested schedule ahead. "Now I must decide with the medical and sports science team when these players will be ready to play and for how long," he stated. Burnley, who drew 1-1 with Derby in their last outing, will face a Watford side looking to create distance from the relegation zone. Burnley's struggles are showed by their league-worst goal difference of -12, a stark contrast to Watford's -5.
Background and full detail: Watford Observer
