Quique Sanchez Flores has confirmed Costel Pantilimon will start in goal for Watford against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter final on Sunday but Hornets centre-back Miguel Britos will miss the game with a hamstring problem.

Pantilimon has featured in both of the Hornets' FA Cup ties since joining the club in January from Sunderland.

However, with a place at Wembley at stake should Watford overcome the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, Flores was asked this afternoon if he would name first-choice goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes in the starting XI.

The Spaniard said: “Pantilimon will play on Sunday. At this moment that’s how it is.

"But if we progress then it’s possible Gomes could play in the FA Cup and Pantilimon can play in the Premier League. Everything is possible.

"I never close off options to the players during the week.”

Watford are still assessing Craig Cathcart and Jose Manuel Jurado’s fitness as the duo attempt to recover from calf injuries.

They missed last weekend’s defeat to Leicester alongside Britos.

The Uruguayan centre-back was named in Watford’s starting XI against the Foxes but had to pull out of the contest after aggravating a hamstring problem.

He hasn’t trained at all this week and Flores has ruled the defender out of the trip to the Emirates.

“Jurado and Cathcart will try and train tomorrow but Britos will not be ready,” Flores explained this afternoon.

“When we lose a player it is important to show confidence in the players that can come into the team.

“So if Britos can’t play we will talk about Sebastian Prödl and how confident he has been since coming back into the team.”

Flores has used the FA Cup as an opportunity to play several members of his squad who haven’t featured regularly in the Premier League.

That is likely to change against the Gunners, however, the Spaniard wasn’t going to give any indication - barring the selection of Pantilimon - about how strong a side he will select.

Watford’s head coach said: “I will pick the players that I think makes the strongest team.

"People may think of other players but the players I choose for the first XI I think will be the strongest.

“It is important to be right in the selection of the players. All the players have my confidence. So it won’t be easy but my team is clear.”