Watford are close to receiving a boost going into the New Year after Gianfranco Zola revealed “it looks like” Nathaniel Chalobah will remain on loan at Vicarage Road for the remainder of the season.

The 18-year-old, who was in excellent form in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion, is due to return to Chelsea following tomorrow’s clash with Charlton Athletic.

The Hornets head coach told Sky Sports after the victory at the Seagulls that he hoped Chalobah’s loan spell would be extended but asked about the current situation with the player’s parent club this lunchtime, Zola told the Watford Observer: “We’re working on that. We think that things are going to be okay for us. You never know but it looks like Nathaniel should stay with us.”

He added: “I think it will be very good for him but also for us. Nathaniel has done very well for us and I think he is is getting better and better. I believe that it will be a very good thing for him if he can stay until the end [of the season] with us.”