Stefano Okaka's future seems unsurprisingly likely to be away from Vicarage Road by the end of January, whether on loan or a permanent transfer.

The Watford Observer understands Okaka has given up hope of rebuilding his relationship with head coach Marco Silva, and will look to leave the club during the upcoming transfer window.

The 28-year-old has played just nine minutes of football, all coming in stoppage time, since he started - and scored - for Watford on the opening day of the season.

That is despite Troy Deeney’s three-match ban earlier this month, and has left the Italian international concluding he has no chance of rebuilding his relationship with head coach Silva.

The pair have been at odds since mid-August following Silva’s decision to leave Okaka out of the squad for the Carabao Cup game with Bristol City, and he was nearly shipped out to Wolves on loan at the end of the transfer window.

It appeared the strains between them might have been patched up when Silva singled him out for praise against Everton earlier this month, despite coming on in injury time for a final throw of the dice from the head coach.

But Okaka was then an unused substitute against West Ham in the following game, before missing the trip to Newcastle on Saturday through an injury which was not disclosed at the time.

And with the return of Deeney from his ban, and no place on the bench on Tuesday, even a busy December looks unlikely to bring any festive joy for the bustling forward.