Valon Behrami wasn’t left out of Watford’s squad for today’s FA Cup victory over Newcastle United due to injury with Quique Sanchez Flores saying the midfielder’s absence was a “technical decision”.

The Switzerland international was expected to feature against the Magpies this afternoon with Flores giving a number of his lesser used players a chance in the starting XI.

But Behrami, who joined the Hornets in the summer, wasn’t in the side and was excluded from the match-day squad entirely.

Flores was asked about Behrami’s absence after watching his side record a 1-0 victory over the Magpies.

The Spaniard replied: “He’s not injured. It was a technical decision.”

When Flores was asked to clarify what he meant by a “technical decision”, the Watford boss said: "At training I watch and analyse. After there is a technical decision made.

“We have 25 players and we have to take very difficult decisions every week about the players and about the squad. I felt for this game the best players we could pick were the players we did.”

Flores was subsequently asked if he felt Behrami, who hasn’t started a game since being sent off against Swansea City in September, would’ve benefitted from playing against the Magpies this afternoon.

He gave an unusually abrupt response and simply said: “No.”