Troy Deeney, Heurelho Gomes and Tom Cleverley are just three of 12 players who could be ruled out of Watford's game at Tottenham on Saturday.

The Hornets' injury list has been one of the major talking points of the season but appeared to have died down with a number of first-team players back fit in the past six weeks.

But two games in the space of four days has evidently taken its toll on the Watford squad, with Deeney, Cleverley and Abdoulaye Doucoure all "very fatigued" according to head coach Walter Mazzarri, and each in danger of missing out on the trip to White Hart Lane.

In addition, Etienne Capoue, Valon Behrami and Heurelho Gomes are all doubts for the fixture, joining Sebastian Prodl, Roberto Pereyra, Mauro Zarate and Younes Kaboul, whose absence was already known, and the suspended Miguel Britos.

"It's our destiny," said Mazzarri. "Against Tottenham, we are always in an emergency. 

"Britos was important because Kaboul and Prodl were injured, and we do not have a defence now.

"We had one of the best games since I have been here on Tuesday, where the players played the way I like and I would have liked to have been able to play against Tottenham with a full team.

"It’s incredible. It’s unusual, and the injuries we have had this season are unusual injuries.

"I’m happy that despite all the injuries we are still going strong.

"It’s one injury after the other. With Zarate, Janmaat, Cathcart, it’s difficult.

"I was told last year there weren’t many injuries. But that’s another reason I’m happy, as despite that, we’re doing well."