It’s fair to say Didier Ndong’s Watford career is yet to come anything close to taking off with the January arrival still to feature for his new club.

A combination of personal problems away from the pitch and Javi Gracia’s preference to play Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure have severely limited the on loan Sunderland man’s chances.

The Gabon international’s failure to play has left many fans questioning his arrival and the sense is he may not stay beyond the end of his loan.

Gracia accepts that not having any game time at a new club is a test for any player, but insists his selection is always made in the best interests of the team.

The Watford boss said: “I know it is not an easy situation for him. I have to take decisions and to find the best solutions for the team.”

Ndong’s route to the starting XI has been impeded by the considerable presence of both Doucoure and Capoue at the heart of Watford’s midfield.

The former has been the Hornets’ star player this season, while the latter looks a new man under Gracia and is thriving in a slightly more withdrawn role.

It seems unlikely barring injury that either will be dislodged between now and the end of the season and Gracia’s decision to stick with both is understandable.

This is not to say Ndong cannot make an impression in the final six games of the season and Gracia is keeping the door to the Watford team well and truly open.

“I think in this moment we have very important players in his position in central midfield. We have Doucoure and Capoue,” he said.

“They play in all the games. In this moment Ndong is not playing, but I do not know if in the next games he can help us.”