Injury update from the Herts Mercury

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by Beekayess, Feb 20, 2018.

  1. Beekayess

    Beekayess Reservist

  2. Beekayess

    Beekayess Reservist

    Watford injuries: A guide to when the absent players might return

    A number of Hornets have now returned to training and could be available for selection soon

    Gracia has not moaned about the absent players since he arrived, preferring to focus on getting the best out of what he had at his disposal.
    • He did admit that a number of those players could return to full-training after the game at West Ham and before the home clash with Everton. Some of those injured men have taken matters into their own hands and posted updates, but the club have been reluctant to give any of them return dates.

      So what do we know about the likes of Nathaniel Chalobah and Tom Cleverley, and when might they return?

      Watford's injury record is pretty bad but not quite as bad as West Ham, Liverpool and Arsenal's
    The Injured

    Craig Cathcart - last game, August 26


    Craig Cathcart has made just one appearance this season (***** Images)

    To say the past two seasons have been an injury nightmare for Craig Cathcart would be an understatement.

    He made 16 appearances in all competitions under Walter Mazzarri and has only managed one this campaign, as a substitute against Brighton.



    Cathcart featured in a friendly at the start of 2018 and Silva said then that a return was close. However, he then suffered a setback and was expected to return to training at the start of the month.

    The Northern Irishman was named in the Premier League squad, so a return should not be too far off. When he will be available for selection is not clear though

    Prediction: Could be Saturday, could be another month away.

    Younes Kaboul - last game, September 9


    Younes Kaboul has been absent since September with two separate problems (***** Images)

    Interestingly, the absence Silva moaned about the most when asked about injuries, Kaboul's been troubled by two separate injuries.

    Firstly, a hamstring problem kept him out between September and November, before he fractured his metatarsal when he returned to training.

    In mid-December, the club confirmed he would be absent for another five to six weeks and then confirmed he was back in training on January 26.

    He is yet to appear in any of the Hornets' training videos though or feature in a matchday squad, suggesting, perhaps, there has been another setback.

    Prediction: Should be available now after a month's training, unless something has gone wrong.

    Nathaniel Chalobah - last game, September 16

    Nathaniel Chalobah's absence has been a lot longer than was first suggested by the club (***** Images)

    The man Watford have missed the most since he fractured his kneecap in September, missing every single game since then.

    Initially, Watford said they hoped he would be back in training before the New Year. That was ambitious and did not come to fruition.

    Chalobah has spent time rehabilitating at St George's Park, but is back at Watford now, meaning a return is edging closer.

    The last real update came in Silva's final pre-game press conference on January 18, where he said that Chalobah would have plenty of time to put himself in the frame for Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad and that he could be back training with Watford 'next month'.

    That could mean Chalobah will be back with the squad in the next eight days, meaning a return to action could be as little as two or three weeks away.

    Seeing Chalobah on the pitch that soon appears a little unlikely, but it's certainly edging closer.

    Prediction: Liverpool on March 17 is a possibility, if not, the Bournemouth home game on March 31 is surely a game he has to aiming for.

    Miguel Britos - last game, November 25

    Miguel Britos is close to a return (***** Images)

    When Miguel Britos limped off at Newcastle with what was described as a bruised foot, few could have seen that keeping him out for nearly three months.

    Watford said the Uruguayan was being 'assessed daily' on December 15, but his injury was clearly more serious than first imagined.

    Britos was one of the players Gracia mentioned as being likely to return to training during this break and he is now back with the squad.

    The game with Everton might be too soon, but he should be available for selection for the West Brom clash if that is the case.

    Prediction: Any day now.

    Will Hughes - last game, November 28

    Hamstring problems have been Will Hughes' undoing (***** Images)

    Just as Will Hughes had finally established himself in the Watford side, he limped off with one of the Hornets' many hamstring problems.

    Surprisingly, he was touch and go for the Christmas fixtures, then he suffered another hamstring injury, this time more serious, and has not played since then.

    Like Britos, however, Hughes was tipped by Gracia to rejoin training last week and he did just that, Tweeting his joy at playing again after ten weeks out last week.

    Could he feature against Everton? Again, it might be a week early, but he's no longer on the long list of injuries.

    Prediction: Everton or West Brom

    Kiko Femenia - last game, December 12

    The find of the season, Kiko is back in training (***** Images) (Image: ***** Images)

    How Watford fans will be delighted to see Kiko Femenia named in the starting lineup at some point in the coming weeks.

    The Spaniard has been dearly missed since he trudged down the tunnel at Selhurst Park as Daryl Janmaat has shown why he quickly became overtaken by Kiko as the first choice right-back.

    Kiko missed Burnley with a hamstring strain, returned three days later from the bench and aggravated it further.

    But Kiko has been photographed back training and Gracia told the Spanish media that he'll be available for selection soon.

    As is the case with Britos and Hughes, that might not be on Saturday, but it should be imminent.

    Prediction: A matter of days, rather than weeks

    Heurelho Gomes - last game, January 13

    Heurelho Gomes should be available when Everton visit (***** Images)

    Heurelho Gomes' absence has actually not been felt that badly, with Orestis Karnezis proving himself a more than suitable deputy.

    A back spasm, suffered the day before Silva's last game at Leicester, has seen Gomes miss more than twice as many games in the past month as he had in the previous three-and-a-half seasons at Vicarage Road.

    But Gomes has been taking part in training over the past week and looks back to full fitness.

    Gracia will have a tough decision to make when he names his side for the Everton clash.

    Prediction: Will start against Everton

    Tom Cleverley - last game, January 31

    Tom Cleverley knows he's in trouble at Stoke (***** Images)

    Tom Cleverley is the latest player to be rushed back from injury by Watford, thus making things worse.

    He limped off at Stoke, Gracia then suggested he could be fit for the Chelsea game, before admitting later that week that he does not know when Cleverley will return.

    If the previous injury problems, especially hamstring ones, are anything to go by, Cleverley could be absent for a number of weeks. His pain and frustration was clear for all to see when he walked off at Stoke.

    Prediction: Could be a while yet

    Christian Kabasele - last game, January 31

    Christian Kabasele completed 90 minutes at Stoke, but picked up an injury in the process (***** Images)

    Cleverley wasn't the only Watford player to suffer at Stoke on that bitterly cold Wednesday night, though, as Christian Kabasele also suffered a hamstring problem.

    He was a surprise absentee for the Chelsea game, but Gracia admitted that he could be out for a number of weeks prior to the West Ham United clash.

    If Britos, Kaboul and Cathcart all return soon rather than later, Kabasele's absence won't be felt as much.

    Kabasele is arguably the Hornets' most improved player this season, but, like Cleverley, looks set to be out for a while.

    Prediction: Don't expect to see him anytime soon
     
  3. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    So really no-one can be certain...

    Going to get cold again too so half expecting some of those who are injured to suffer set backs!
     
  4. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    So frustrating.....
     
  5. Rontaylor

    Rontaylor Reservist

    That's more information than we';ve seen all-season.
     
  6. Cassetti's Beard

    Cassetti's Beard First Team

    I'll save you a read.

    They don't know.
     
  7. another_mrlizard

    another_mrlizard Squad Player

    In what respect is a list of injured players, with a guesstimate based on zero actual information “news?”.
     
    ITKJim likes this.
  8. ITKJim

    ITKJim Reservist

    That's literally all the information we've received compiled into one article. And they've guessed the return dates with each player.
     
    Cassetti's Beard likes this.
  9. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    another_mrlizard has rushed to make this post and it's too early to say if it will pay off or not.

    He's had some right corkers this season and at times has kept threads going single-handedly.

    Prediction: He probably won't post again until Thursday.
     
    SouthamptonHornet likes this.
  10. ITK platypus

    ITK platypus Squad Player

    As bad as this is, nothing will ever top Almen Abdi's 2013-14 season and plantar fasciitis. That was more uncertainty and frustration than this platypus could handle.
     
    Ray Knight, RookeryDad and wfc4ever like this.
  11. With A Smile

    With A Smile First Team

    thats a lot of waffle to tell us that Gomes is fit and that they don't have a scooby frigging doo about anyone else
     
    Halfwayline and davisp2 like this.
  12. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    They had no idea how to treat that either !

    In the end think Adbi tore the muscle and actually made a quick recovery after that.
     
  13. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    It’s almost as if that whole article was written by the Watford FC medical team...
     
    wfc4ever and Ray Knight like this.
  14. vic-rijrode

    vic-rijrode First Year Pro

    I had that a few years ago and it's bloody painful. I can quite understand why he couldn't play until it corrected itself like mine did after a few weeks. There is, apparently, no known treatment but in the vast majority of cases it cures itself - hence the uncertainty.
     
    ITK platypus likes this.
  15. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Well with the freezing weather to come they will probably get injured again!
     
  16. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    Pob likes this.
  17. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Except it's all assumptions and guesswork
     
  18. tonycotonstache

    tonycotonstache Squad Player

    Add Delefeou and Femenia back on the list. Also add Richarlison as 'burnt out'.
     
  19. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Hope not!
     
  20. ITKJim

    ITKJim Reservist

    Limping for the last 15 minutes.
     
  21. wingco

    wingco Reservist

    Second time this season he's fallen victim to not being able to come off. The club really are dreadful at player rehabilitation
     
    ITKJim likes this.
  22. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Deleufeu out for ‘some time’ according to his social media.

    Couldn’t make this season up. Literally like Sideshow Bob walking into a rake at every turn...
     
    kVA, miked2006, DaveWFC and 1 other person like this.
  23. wingco

    wingco Reservist

    Oh well, at least he gave us the boost we needed. Played a big part in 7 vital points.

    Carrillo needs to push on now
     
  24. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    Best. Episode. Ever.
     
    batterahatter and Knight GT like this.
  25. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    I'm pretty disappointed the Mercury didn't predict Deleufeu's injury.
     
  26. Heidar

    Heidar Squad Player

    In the time after we said we'd focus on bringing back the injured players, we've lost Cleverley, Kabasele and Delofeu - with only Femenia returning who I bet will limp off against West Brom.

    The saying goes "buy cheap, buy twice", which also seems to mean "buy cheap, buy injury-prone". Only Capoue, Doucoure and so far Richarlison seem to be able to keep themselves in one piece.

    God help us if we sell Doucoure and Richarlison. We'll be playing Harry the Hornet in midfield by October.
     
  27. tonycotonstache

    tonycotonstache Squad Player

    Well Harry doesn't dance so much these days since he did his hammy too..
     
  28. kVA

    kVA Reservist

    Exactly, even this forum did!
     
  29. simpleMASH

    simpleMASH Reservist

    wfc4ever likes this.
  30. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Well that broken foot for GD will probably take more than expected to heal unless we are sending back to Barca.
     
  31. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    Really, really worrying news - this injury could be the end of us in the PL...
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  32. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Lets hope Harry is ok for the 21st - sure Mr Zaha of Croydon , South London wants to catch up!
     
  33. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    This is the biggest joke of all!
    That Haha lives in Croydon.
    Beckenham quite possibly but no one would live in Croydon if they had another option!
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  34. Jumbolina

    Jumbolina First Team

    Wilfried Zaha (Hamstring). Injured 4 Feb 2018. Starts match 5 March 2018. 29 days.
    Tom Cleverly (Hamstring). Injured 31 Jan 2018. Garcia unable to say when he will even return to training as at 31 March 2018. 59 days and counting.

    Gabriel Jesus (Medial Collateral Ligament Damage). Injured 31 Dec 2017. Starts match 7 March 2018. 66 days.
    Miguel Britos (Bruise). Injured 25 November 2017. Starts match 17 March 2018. 112 days.
     
  35. Keighley

    Keighley First Team

    To be fair, Jesus always recovers quickly. 3 days, I have heard.

    <topical joke>.
     
    Jossy and Jumbolina like this.

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