Watford have been been dealt a big blow with the news that one of their Nigerian strikers, Isaac Success, faces up to three weeks on the sidelines.

A hamstring injury prevented the former Flying Eagles star from suiting up in the Premier League fixture versus Crystal Palace on Boxing Day, and additional tests carried out revealed that the injury is not minor.

“Success will miss two or three more weeks, more or less,” Watford coach Walter Mazzarri told reporters.

“Okaka we are hoping a bit earlier. We are doing all we can. He has big muscles and we need to be careful how we use him. For sure he will be back for Middlesbrough.”

Success has managed eight appearances in the English top-flight despite his injury troubles for a large part of the ongoing season.

Igho Kingsley