Almen Abdi and Gabriele Angella have recovered from their respective injuries and both could return to the Watford side against Derby County tomorrow. 

Abdi has been out for a month after he picked up a shoulder injury in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest whilst Angella hasn’t featured since September 27 due to an ankle injury.

However, the two players returned to training during the international break and Watford head coach Slavisa Jokanovic says the duo may return to the first team for tomorrow’s Championship clash.

“They have missed many training sessions while they have been injured so they will need some time to be 100 per cent fit,” Jokanovic said yesterday.

“But they are both options to participate against Derby.”

Watford have struggled to control possession for 90 minutes in Abdi’s absence and Jokanovic is pleased to have the midfielder available for selection.

“Abdi is a player who keeps it simple,” the Hornets boss said. “He isn’t always looking for the killer pass or trying something spectacular in the game.

“He is a clever guy who tries to keep control of the ball. At the right moment, he will try a pass that breaks the defensive line or will try and score a goal. I do not have many players with these characteristics.”

Control is a word which is often used by Jokanovic. He wants to the Hornets to dominate possession but accepts that may be difficult against Derby.

“They (Derby) want to keep possession of the ball and it is clear what they will try and do,” Jokanovic said.

“I don’t want to tell you exactly what we will try and do on Saturday but we will try to make a few modifications to be a little bit more solid and to help us against a team that is good with the ball.

“Derby suffer when they don’t have possession and it is the same for us. So we need to have the ball under our control.”

The Rams currently lead the Championship table and, prior to the international break, produced an outstanding display to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-0.

Steve McClaren’s side have won six of their last nine matches and are the joint highest scorers in the division.

Watford have only kept one clean sheet in their last ten league games and Jokanovic says that will have to improve if the Hornets are to challenge for promotion.

“It is a problem,” Jokanovic admitted. “One clean sheet in ten games is not enough for a team that wants to achieve important targets at the end of the season.

“We are scoring enough goals but are not solid enough defensively. We need to work harder as a team when we defend.

“It is the 21st century and if we are not working together as a team then it is going to be harder for us to achieve our goals.”