Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is still without any recognised strikers ahead of Watford's visit to Villa Park tomorrow night, after they failed to bring Mbwana Samatta in on time.

The Hornets travel to the Midlands for a weekday clash with Villa in what could be an important game with both sides hovering precariously around the relegation spots.

However, Smith's side will once again be without a recognised striker, as they have been for the last three matches, with Wesley out for the season with a knee injury, Keinan Davis only just returning to training after three months out with a hamstring problem and Jonathan Kodjia leaving for Qatari side Al-Gharafa.

Villa do expect to complete Samatta's signing in due course, but they have now missed the deadline to have him available for tomorrow night's game.

"I'm very hopeful he can become an Aston Villa player soon. It's very close," said Smith.

"It's disappointing (the deal has not been finalised), we would have wanted him in but, even if he had come in today, he'd have had only one morning with the players.

"The lads have got used to it over the last three or four games.

"Wesley got injured against Burnley in a good performance and a good result, and, since then, we've played well at Leicester away in the cup and we did well, and Brighton as well."