Abdoulaye Doucoure is back in contention for Watford as they prepare to host Premier League relegation rivals Aston Villa.

The midfielder missed the draw against Sheffield United on Boxing Day as he served a one-match suspension, with Nathaniel Chalobah taking his place in the team.

Ismaila Sarr was forced off with a head injury at Bramall Lane, leaving him with a swollen eye, but the forward is not concussed and will be available on Saturday.

Tyrone Mings will not be considered for Villa’s trip to Vicarage Road.

The defender has returned to training following a hamstring injury but will still miss the final match of 2019 as he regains fitness.

John McGinn is sidelined until March with a fractured ankle while Keinan Davis (hamstring) is close to a return but Jed Steer remains out with his Achilles injury.

Watford provisional squad: Foster, Mariappa, Cathcart, Kiko, Kabasele, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Deulofeu, Deeney, Sarr, Gomes, Dawson, Masina, Foulquier, Chalobah, Pereyra, Quina, Gray, Success.

Aston Villa provisional squad: Heaton, Nyland, Guilbert, Engels, Chester, Taylor, Elmohamady, Hause, Konsa, Targett, Luiz, Nakamba, Hourihane, Lansbury, Grealish, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Wesley, Kodjia.