Mauro Zarate is back in full training with Watford almost six months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in just his third game for the club in February.

Zarate was a January signing from Fiorentina but had barely got through the door when his season was cut short by the horrific injury, suffered during the Hornets' 1-1 draw with West Ham.

But now he is back and raring for a return to action - with head coach Marco Silva running the rule over his fitness before putting him back in the Hornets squad.

Performance director Gavin Benjafield told the Watford website: "Mauro is in full training with the team and his fitness is improving week-on-week. His availability for games is still under observation and it's up to the manager when he feels he's fit and ready to get some match minutes."

Christian Kabasele and Brice Dja Djedje, who both featured at the start of pre-season but have missed recent weeks with injury, are also back training with their team-mates.

The latter is still sporting a finger brace after an unfortunate injury saw him fracture one of his extremities before the start of the campaign.

Troy Deeney, who Silva revealed last week had returned to training in the build-up to Watford's Premier League opener with Liverpool, is still building up his fitness after rejoining with his tem-mates.