The January transfer window may open on Tuesday but Watford boss Gianfranco Zola has stated he will not think about improving his squad until after the next two matches.

The Hornets travel to Brighton & Hove Albion tomorrow before returning to Vicarage Road on New Year’s Day for a clash against Charlton Athletic.

Many sides will look to strengthen their squads throughout January and while Zola hasn’t ruled out that possibility, he insists the match against the Seagulls is currently the focus of his attention.

He said: “I am not even thinking about the transfer window. The priority is to get the two games out of the way then we can maybe start thinking about the possible things we could do to improve the team.

“But first of all, Saturday is a massive game for us so we have to concentrate on that.”

The Hornets travel to Brighton looking to build on their 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest.

Neither side were in action on Boxing Day and Gus Poyet’s men haven’t played since their 2-2 draw with Millwall on December 18.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Watford but Marco Cassetti is suspended. Zola is expecting Fernando Forestieri to be available for selection after he trained yesterday.

The Hornets manager is anticipating an entertaining contest and a different test than what his players are used to.

The Italian explained: “It has all the ingredients to be a very good game. We will certainly want to do well and they will obviously do the same.

“I have been told it will nearly be a full house as well which means the supporters will be there and will make the game even better.”

He continued: “We are playing a side that is close to us [in the table] and it is going to be tough. They play in a way, especially at home, that sees them keep a lot of possession – as we like to do.

“So it is going to be a tough game for my team. We normally play sides who play differently to how we do but Brighton play in a similar way to how we do, so that will be a good test for us.

“I’m looking forward to it and it will be a pleasure to see Gus again and compete against him.”

Zola and Poyet are good friends after the duo spent four years playing together at Chelsea and the Brighton boss believes his former team-mate is doing a good job at Watford.

He said: “If I can’t win the league, if you ask me who I want to win the league it is Gianfranco Zola.

“As a player (at Chelsea) he was not even thinking about being a manager. I would imagine he was thinking more about being a professional golfer than a manager.

“But sometimes with football, like life, you don’t know where it takes you. Slowly he started watching football, then he got with the right people and they convinced him. He knows what he wants.

“He understands football in an unbelievable way. People were trying to find out if he could transmit that to the players and I think so far so good.”