It would take a lot to distract the thinking in Watford circles from the ongoing saga revolving around Marco Silva and Everton, but a crunch Premier League clash with West Ham United will provide some welcome mufflers, if only for a couple of hours.

The arrival of David Moyes at the start of the international break has been consigned to the memory banks as the tug of war over Silva has taken the headlines in recent days, but this afternoon's encounter has its own sense of intrigue, whether lost or not.

The only prior meeting between the two managers derailed Hull City, then with Silva at the helm, in their quest for top-flight survival last season; Sunderland, already relegated, pulled off a shock 2-0 win at the KCOM Stadium to give Moyes his last glimmer of a smile before leaving the Black Cats in June.

The reaction to Moyes' appointment at the London Stadium has not been far off that if Mr Bean were named Chancellor of the Exchequer, but there is undoubtedly a good manager in there somewhere.

In fact, it is justified precisely by the fact Everton are looking to make Silva their third manager in four years - Moyes did enough to impress the Goodison Park heirarchy to keep him there for 11.

He could be left wondering if he's got the lungs for the uphill struggle the Hammers will face this afternoon, though, with three crucial players ruled out of the game at Vicarage Road.

Last season's revelation, Michail Antonio, is ruled out with injury, so too top scorer Javier Hernandez. If Moyes is to make it through his probation with the West Ham fans, he'll need the Mexican firing, but losing him is a big blow.

Another big blow could come from Andy Carroll if any Watford defenders get in his way this afternoon, and Moyes is hopeful of utilising the giant centre forward from day one.

The Scot came under fire at Manchester United for setting a record high number of crosses in one game in 2013, but that kind of statistic will leave Carroll's ears pricked, and neck braced for an aerial tussle with the Hornets backline.

Top-quality centre-back Winston Reid's absence may prove the most problematic for Moyes, whose defence is already leakier than a Poundland sieve.

Ironically they have only conceded twice more than Watford this season, but still shipping three at home to Brighton and the same number at St Mary's - where Southampton fail to score for fun - is a dire record.

Hoever, Moyes has a Midas touch of sorts, having only lost his first game in charge of any of his five teams on one occasion - and even then, a late 2-1 defeat at Manchester City with Sunderland was nothing to sniff at.