Hyde will join the squad bound for the City Ground tomorrow, (Saturday) and Watford will be hoping the mystery condition will have cleared up. Twice before Hyde has come back only to break down again, troubled by his hamstring, despite being given the all-clear by scans.

Hyde will probably contest the midfield place with Jamie Hand, although Lewington was hoping to give him a reserve-team outing first.

Watford did have a scare when Danny Webber limped off having twisted his knee in falling late in the game at Preston. He watched the remainder of the game with an icepack on his his knee. The has not been any significant swelling and he has rested up, missing training on Thursday.

"He may miss it on Friday as well, but he will play on Saturday," said the manager.

In the meantime, Watford will be preparing for their trip to Forest, budgeting for how the home side will play.

"They are one of my favourite sides in the division. I would pay to watch Forest play. I think they play lovely football and it is a lovely place to go and play. The pitch is immaculate, the stadium is immaculate and they play football the way it is meant to be played," said Ray Lewington.