Watford manager Malky Mackay has confirmed highly-rated striker Gavin Massey will not play in tonight’s FA Youth Cup tie as he will travel with the first team to Queens Park Rangers tomorrow.

Massey is eligible to play against Swindon Town tonight but after coming on for the first team against Leicester City on Saturday, the 18-year-old looks to have kept his place in the squad.

Mackay said: “Gavin’s going to be involved with the first team squad. He came on at the weekend for five minutes or so to get that bit of experience.

“He’s been doing very well with the Youth and Reserve teams lately and I just felt it was time for him to be involved with us.

“We’re very short of numbers at the moment and he’s another youngster that’s doing well. It shows there are youngsters at Harefield coming through our Academy and coming into our youth set up.

“There is potential but you have to go out and do it and at the moment Gavin’s doing well for us in the Reserves.”