Vladimir Ivic is hoping Watford can bolster their squad during the upcoming transfer window and bring in the necessary players he feels will carry them to promotion come the end of the season.

There are a number of areas that need attention in terms of both incomings and outgoings and the head coach will have words with those responsible for recruitment about where he feels strengthening is required.

Injuries and positive Covid-19 tests have played their part in a difficult first few months for the Serbian, who has been left feeling frustrated at having to piece together different teams with important first-team players missing.

Now he has the opportunity to improve his squad as he looks to take Watford back into the top flight and hopes the club will move accordingly.

“I have to speak with the board of the club, and the people who need to take information from me about what we need,” said Ivic. “We did four months ago the same. I know which positions we need and what we’re looking for. Now, it’s a question of the moment and if we will move or not. I know that we need the positions and the people in the club know what kind of player I need.”

One area where Ivic is definitely targeting reinforcements is the left-back position with Ken Sema the only left-footed player to have played at all so far this season.

However, the Watford Observer understands that those above Ivic are happy to first see how well Adam Masina performs upon his return, after he rejoined the squad ahead of schedule, before they commit to bringing a new player in.

This is a view not shared by the head coach, who said he was being “realistic” about the situation.

“I am happy [Masina] will be with us, but I’m realistic. If you are not realistic in football you cannot succeed. No chance.

“I cannot put him in now, it’s time to take15, 20, 25 minutes over the next 10 games. We have 30 points [to play for] in these 10 games. It’s a question of how he will be in one on a half months. We hope he’ll be good. Everybody will work to improve him, to bring his level up to the top level, where he had been before, but we cannot be sure that he will be. Nobody knows.”

Another position where Ivic is hoping for new arrivals is the centre of midfield, particularly now he knows Domingos Quina could be out for up to two months.

%image('12148661', type='article-full', caption='Watford manager Vladimir Ivic directs Watford's Domingos Quina on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship match at Vicarage Road, Watford.', alt='Watford manager Vladimir Ivic directs Watford's Domingos Quina on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship match at Vicarage Road, Watford.')

A string of problems that have seen Will Hughes reduced to a handful of cameo appearances from the bench have also played their part in the head coach’s desire to bring in new faces, although he feels he at least has some options for rotation.

“We need this type of player, but we use the players what we have in this position,” said Ivic.

“Sometimes it’s Joao Pedro who can be the guy who can give us this creativity what we need, sometimes Domingos Quina. Normally we have [Tom] Cleverley, James Garner,who is a midfield player who improves our game and who’s quality with the ball.

“But again, we know that we have one player like will Hughes, who can give us a lot of solutions, but until now, we haven’t used him because of the problems what he had. It’s something that is a team problem.

“If one player doesn’t work for 10 days, he cannot give his maximum immediately in the next game. He needs time and games to come to his top level. You need to think about how to win the game and who can give you in this moment their best.”