Quique Sanchez Flores has intimated Steven Berghuis was left out of Watford’s match-day squad against Bournemouth because he has failed to impress the Hornets head coach in training this week. 

The Dutchman didn’t travel to the south coast despite the Golden Boys being without creative midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado due to injury.

Lloyd Dyer and Essaid Belkalem were included in the travelling party despite not playing a single minute of first-team action this season and, after the Hornets had sealed a 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium, Flores was asked why Berghuis hadn’t made the trip.

He coyly replied: “It is difficult [for any player] to make the final list for the match. Maybe some players in training are thinking that it is very easy to make Watford’s list. Maybe that is because we are humble team.

“But it is very difficult to choose every player because everyone wants to be in the in the first XI and the 18.

“So when a player is not on the list they need to think about what we need if they want to go on the list.”

Berghuis has so far made five appearances in all competitions for the Golden Boys this season but has yet to start for Flores' side.