Fifty-two points has been enough to survive relegation in the Championship every season bar one in the past decade and Malky Mackay says that is Watford’s number one target going into their final 17 games.

The Hornets are nine points off the play-offs and six from the relegation places but Mackay says he is not discussing the prospect of either currently and is solely concentrating on reaching 52 points.

“Well 52 points is everyone’s target in the division as it makes you safe,” the Watford manager said.

“Everyone wants to get to that as quickly as possible and then you see where you go from there. That is everyone’s target in the division, who have not already reached it.”

Watford are seven points from seventh place with three games in hand on Sheffield United, but when asked whether the play-offs have been discussed with the players, Mackay replied: “Absolutely not. You have to make sure you stay in the division and then you kick on after that. Consistency then brings you further up the table.

“It is a very tight division and there are an awful lot of games coming up and that last 15 games that teams have, they are the ones where it comes down to whether you are going to be up there or thereabouts.

“So everyone is looking for the same thing - consistency.”

The emergency loan window re-opened on February 8 but no more bodies have arrived since and Mackay does not expect any new signings any time soon.

“There is nothing happening at the moment, that is the squad we have at present,” Mackay said.

“I’m not expecting anything at the moment. I have always said all along that if something comes up that is of interest and is within our financial parameters, then I would always look at it but right now there is nothing on the horizon.”