Jay DeMerit could make a return to the Watford squad for tomorrow's clash with league-leaders Newcastle United.

Hornets boss Malky Mackay says his captain's fitness will be assessed before the team leave for St James Park but the Watford Observer understands the USA international is expected to be in the 18-man squad.

DeMerit has been out since the beginning of September due to an eye injury but 'revolutionary surgery' has halved his recovery time.

Don Cowie also returns after missing the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace with a calf problem, which means Ross Jenkins is the only member of the first-team squad unavailable as he recovers from back surgery.

Newcastle are two points clear at the top of the Championship, after winning their last five games, but Mackay claims his players are looking forward to the challenge.

He said: "It is another team who have come down from the Premiership and it is a stadium where some of the boys will not have been before.

"No doubt it is a tough place to go but it is an enjoyable place to go. You want to play in front of 50,000 people, on a beautiful surface against a team coming down from the Premiership.

"As far as the players are concerned, they will be loving going up there."

A number of the Hornets squad have never played in front of 40,000 fans before but Mackay insists his younger players won't be intimidated by the passionate St James’ Park crowd.

Mackay said: "When you are young, you often feel you can handle anything. It is only when you get older that you start thinking about things.

"They certainly haven't shown any fear about going anywhere so far in their attitude.

"Results obviously are a different matter but I certainly have not seen anything from any of them fearing going to St James' Park.

"They are all really excited and looking forward to testing themselves this weekend against another top team."