Almen Abdi was "clinically" fit enough to face Derby County but was left out because Slavisa Jokanovic was unsure if the midfielder was ready for a return.

Abdi has been out for more than a month with a shoulder injury but last week the club stated he was fit enough to be considered for selection on Saturday.

However, the 28-year-old was not included in the Hornets’ squad and the Rams went on to complete a 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road.

Speaking after the defeat, Jokanovic explained the Swiss international’s absence.

He said: "Abdi, clinically, is ready but I have had an opportunity to observe him and I am not sure he is ready to compete.

“We are going to try to give him some minutes on Tuesday in the Under-21s to see 100 per cent if he is ready or not."

Heurelho Gomes also missed Saturday’s defeat. Prior to Jokanovic’s pre-match press conference on Thursday, a club official listed the Hornets’ injured players and the goalkeeper was not amongst them.

But Jokanovic revealed at the weekend Gomes had missed training for the past four or five days with a tendon problem, which we understand is tendonitis.