Keith Andrews’ time at Watford appears to be over after head coach Slavisa Jokanovic confirmed the midfielder is no longer training with the club.

The Watford Observer was informed on Friday morning that Andrews had fallen out with Jokanovic and was no longer training with the first team.

Prior to being able to ask Jokanovic or Andrews about the situation, the Republic of Ireland international appeared on Sky Sports during its coverage of Watford’s 5-0 victory at Fulham.

Andrews was critical of Jokanovic; stating he did not know why he had been left out of the squad and claimed the Hornets boss doesn’t know his best starting XI.

Jokanovic confirmed Andrews was no longer training with the first team or the development side.

The Serbian explained Andrews was not selected for the last two matches due to the regulations which only permit a club to name five loan players in an 18-man squad. Andrews has been the one sacrificed in favour of Crystal Palace loanee Adlene Guedioura, who joined ten days ago.

Jokanovic said: “This is my decision. I decided to separate Keith Andrews from my team. He didn’t understand my decision, he probably didn’t understand me very well and probably had some problems when communicating with me.”

The former Chelsea midfielder was interrupted before continuing: “He probably had some problems with communication, he doesn’t accept some of my decisions and he doesn’t understand that being a professional player is sometimes on the pitch, sometimes in the stand and sometimes on the bench.

“I made the decision to separate him from the squad.”

“There are rules. I can only have five loan players [in the squad] and Keith didn’t understand this situation and other things,” Jokanovic added.

He may have been on loan from Bolton Wanderers but Andrews has been one of the most vocal presences at Watford this season and the 34-year-old is understood to have played a big role in trying to unite the squad during the managerial upheaval, which included having four head coaches in 37 days.

Andrews highlighted the turbulent period at the club and stated the Hornets lacked consistency even when they led the Championship.

He claimed the Golden Boys were only top at the start of November “because of the quality of players we have in the squad”.

On his absence from the line-up at Craven Cottage, Andrews told Sky Sports: "I'm not entirely sure [why I've been left out] to be honest. Last weekend I was not picked for the squad and I haven't really heard too much on that subject. It has been very disappointing.

“I'm on loan but I don't consider myself a loan player. I feel I've done a lot behind the scenes during the turbulent period and troubled times we have had. I'm a little bit in the dark at the minute."

Andrews was asked if Jokanovic know his best XI. He replied: "Probably not. We have a very good squad and nobody has a divine right to play week in and week out. [But] you just have to look at Joel Ekstrand. He was man of the match last weekend against Cardiff and he has not even travelled today so you'd have to ask why because for me he's been our most consistent defender."

Watford Observer:

Jokanovic stated Ekstrand was left out of the win at Fulham because of the Football League’s rules regarding home grown players.

The Serbian said: “I have an obligation to put six home grown players in the squad and this is the only reason Joel was not with us because I don’t have space for all of the players. Sometimes I have to think about a lot of things.

“In the last game against Cardiff I didn’t have space for (Odion) Ighalo and he has been training really well. He is working hard and helps us so much.

“Today it happened with Joel and I don’t have any problem with him. It is a technical decision.”