Francisco Sierralta will have an important part to play for Watford this season, insists head coach Xisco Munoz, despite the centre back watching the opening two matches of the season from the bench.

The Chilean's involvement in the Copa America reduced the amount of time he had to participate in pre-season, but Munoz feels he is now ready to make an impact.

Whether or not the defender will feature in this evening's Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace remains to be seen, but the head coach is expecting him to prove his worth again soon, after playing a key part in the Hornets' promotion last season.

"He's important for me this season. He's very, very important for me," said Munoz.

"We need to understand he came back later because he was in the Copa America. Also, he needed time to have holidays and to recover his body because the Championship was very, very hard.

"He's ready. Tomorrow if he plays in the first XI, he has a chance to show everyone, 'I'm here, I want to play the next game.'

"For me I'm just trying to give the best selections, for who will stay best on the pitch."

One player Watford fans are unlikely to see for a while is Nathaniel Chalobah, who remains out with an illness.

Munoz could not put an exact date on his expected return.

"We will see," he said.

"Sometimes I need to wait and we need time. It depends sometimes on the doctors with different things. We need time about this. I can't say exactly when or a date because we don't know."