Craig Pawson is due to make a quick return to Vicarage Road after being named as the referee for Watford’s first Premier League game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The South Yorkshire official was in charge for last weekend’s 2-1 friendly victory over Real Sociedad, with his last Hornets league game coming in April when he controversially sent off Troy Deeney following a raised forearm against Lucas Torreira in the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

Pawson took charge of one other Watford game last season and it also ended in a 1-0 defeat, the trip to Newcastle United in November.

Saturday will see a video assistant referee help oversee a Watford match in the Premier League for the first time and Andy Madley has been appointed to this position for the clash with the Seagulls.

Another Yorkshireman, Madley officiated in only one Hornets fixture last season, the 3-2 home win against Cardiff City in December.

The assistant VAR is due to be Mark Scholes.