Hornets legend Heidar Helguson could be ruled out of Watford’s next two matches as the club continue their fight to avoid relegation from the Championship.

The fans’ favourite will certainly miss Tuesday night’s clash with fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers as he is ineligible to play against his parent club.

But Watford’s chances of survival could suffer another blow as the striker is a major doubt for tomorrow’s trip to promotion-chasing Leicester City due to a groin injury.

Helguson reached double figures for Watford this season with the winner against Plymouth Argyle last weekend, taking his overall tally this campaign to 11 after scoring for QPR in August.

Manager Malky Mackay said: “Heidar had a niggle so we took him off at the weekend and we have been nursing him through that, so we will await Friday to see if he is coming with us or not. He is touch and go at the moment.”

Leading goalscorer Tom Cleverley has returned to Manchester United due to lateral knee ligament damage and while Mackay has not ruled out Will Buckley or Lloyd Doyley making a surprise return before the end of the season, the pair will definitely miss the next two matches with hamstring injuries.

Mackay said he was “very proud” of his side after their first win in seven against Plymouth last weekend.

But the Scot has some welcome selection problems for the weekend, with Henri Lansbury and Jon Harley back from suspension and Martin Taylor returning to full fitness.

The win over Argyle was the Hornets’ first clean sheet in 13 matches but Mackay has not ruled out replacing either Jay DeMerit or Dale Bennett for this weekend’s trip to The Walkers Stadium.

Mackay said: “I am not someone that ties myself to, if the team win then they have to play the following game.

“You look at games and it is horses for courses, with different players for different games. It is something we will look at before Saturday, to determine what defence we are going to select.

“It is good to know that when someone is injured they are able to step in and do a very good job and the back four on Saturday were immense and were absolutely the same against West Brom.

“They did very well and competition for places is what you love to have and it is not always the case, especially with a lot of the youngsters, as you do not know about the consistency of their performances.”

Marvin Sordell has also returned from his two-month loan spell at Tranmere Rovers and Mackay said the striker will be in contention between now and the end of the season and “could find himself on the bench” at the weekend.

Rob Kiernan is back at the club’s London Colney training ground after his loan spell at Kilmarnock ended due to an ankle injury, but Lewis Young is still with Hereford United after coming back to Hertfordshire for treatment on a hip injury.

Watford had five trialists playing in the Reserves’ 9-3 win over Stevenage Borough on Monday and the club are still considering whether to try and sign Everton duo John Nolan and Moses Barnett.

Nolan is a 17-year-old midfielder and Barnett is a 19-year-old defender, who can play at left-back or centre back and has represented England at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 level.

Mackay said: “Those two are youngsters who are going to be released by their club and we have had them training with the youngsters and they were involved in a Reserve game and may be involved in another one. But no decision has been made yet.”

Watford go into tomorrow’s match with Leicester in 19th place, three points above the drop zone with a game in hand on the bottom four.