The substitutes bench is an area of Vicarage Road Troy Deeney has scarcely had to worry about forming too close a relationship with during the past few seasons of his Watford career.

While the early part of his time in Hertfordshire was punctuated by stints on the bench, Deeney has moved on significantly from those initial hiccups.

He has made at least 40 appearances in each of his campaigns since arriving at the club in 2010, going on to become Watford's captain and talisman in the process.

This season, however, Deeney has so far played second fiddle to Andre Gray, a record £18.5 million signing from Burnley in the summer.

Injury has, of course, played a role in sidelining the 29-year-old with a groin complaint, but there is a sense Marco Silva favours Gray.

The Watford head coach says Deeney is pushing for a starting spot, but insists he must be prepared to do the work required to earn one.

"I believe he wants more, like all the others, not just him. He works for that and this is the most important thing for me," Silva said.

"He is like the others and it is normal that the players who stay on the bench and the ones who don’t even make the bench are frustrated.

"It is normal and when they come here, even if they stay unhappy, what Troy and the others need to show to me is that they want to stay in the first XI."

The groin injury which saw Deeney miss valuable pre-season training and match time means the striker was always going to need time to find his fitness.

Silva, who was eager to focus on the collective, has introduced Deeney as a sub in four games this term and says he is nearing full fitness.

He said: "I prefer to talk about our team as a team. It is my decision and he has started to come into good fitness.

"He needs minutes in his legs. I need him to work hard, to work well during the week and after it is a matter of my decision."

Deeney is not the only player to be used sparingly this season, with the likes of Etienne Capoue also awaiting a first league start.

Silva understands the need to keep his squad happy, but says spells out of the first team are part and parcel of being a footballer.

"Firstly, I think it is my obligation to [keep players happy]," he said.

"What happens with them happens with every football club and you can have moments on the bench.

"Everything can change in a couple of weeks or months. You never know. If they are on the bench it’s because, in my opinion, the players in the team did good work and I’m happy"

Silva will take his side to the Liberty Stadium on the back of a 6-0 defeat against Manchester City and will be hoping for an improved display on the road.

Games against the likes Swansea are far likelier to decide Watford's season than clashes with teams like City.

Silva is aware of the need to pick up a positive result, but says he will take points wherever he can get them.

"It’s true. We analysed the first five matches we’ve achieved good results against teams fighting with us but we’ll see what happens in the future," he said.

"It is important to us we play our game, with our ideas and philosophy and try to achieve good results.

"That’s the most important. If it’s against teams competing for the same goal with you, it’s better if you achieve good results."

Watford will once again be without a number of defensive options in Wales.

Miguel Britos is still serving a suspension, while Sebastian Prodl and Younes Kaboul are both absent with injury.