WORRIED SILVA: WE HAVE NO DEFENCE

BANG on cue, Watford have a defensive crisis as Manchester City close in on Vicarage Road.

On the final day of last season, the Hornets were without all six central defenders in their 25-man league squad, outgoing boss Walter Mazzarri named two goalkeepers on the bench as a frivolous parting shot... and City strolled to a 5-0 win.

Watford’s new head coach Marco Silva, whose side are unbeaten, is wrestling with a similar problem because centre-backs Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Prodl, Craig Cathcart and Miguel Britos – are unavailable.

The Hornets could go top, for only the second time in their 136-year history, if they beat City for the first time since 1989.

But Portuguese boss Silva has an excuse if they fall short, saying: “We know, for the final game last season, there were six centre-backs missing through injury.

“I’ve had to use six centrebacks already in four games – not a normal situation – and tried to sign one more as we know some of the players had problems in the past.

“So far we’ve not been able to play the same two centrebacks from one game to the next. It’s important for the team that we start to get everybody fit.”