Watford v Newcastle: Hornets injury worries, Magpies star to return

Watford will be without Christian Kabasele against Newcastle.

The defender was hospitalised after colliding with a goal post during the defeat to Chelsea, though he appears to have escaped serious injury.

Will Hughes (hip), Andre Gray (leg), Sebastian Prodl (knee) and Adalberto Penaranda (foot) were all absent on Boxing Day and could remain out.

Provisional squad: Foster, Cathcart, Kiko, Holebas, Sema, Doucoure, Quina, Pereyra, Cleverley, Deeney, Success, Capoue, Gomes, Mariappa, Masina, Wilmot, Chalobah, Deulofeu, Okaka.

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is available after a five-game absence.

Shelvey’s recovery from a thigh injury is timely for manager Rafael Benitez, with Ki Sung-yueng now away on international duty with South Korea at the Asian Cup.

Benitez has only keeper Karl Darlow (elbow) and defender Ciaran Clark (ankle) missing, with Florian Lejeune now available after a lengthy lay-off with knee ligament damage.

Provisional squad: Dubravka, Woodman, Yedlin, Dummett, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Schar, Shelvey, Diame, Hayden, Kenedy, Ritchie, Murphy, Atsu, Longstaff, Perez, Rondon, Joselu, Muto.