How long should Watford remain patient with Andre Gray?

His record has convinced even the most patient of supporters that his presence in the team could be having a detrimental effect on their chances of promotion, while more vitriolic fans are suggesting the time for him to go has long since passed. But things are not quite that simple.

Were there to be an exit route available, it's likely both Gray and Watford would agree that it best suits all parties to part ways at this juncture, yet a number of significant obstacles mean his departure remains improbable for now.

That leaves the club with a high-earning, underperforming striker on their books and only a handful of options available to them, none of which look like definitively solving the issue.

One of those choices is to keep playing Gray up front, something head coach Xisco Munoz was happy to try again last night during an unsightly 0-0 draw with Millwall.

Munoz has previously vowed to remain patient with the forward, describing him as "excellent", and it seems like he is sticking to his word, living in hope that eventually Gray will begin converting chances when they come his way.

To Gray's credit, he has continued to at least make the effort where others in his position might have given up altogether. His movement off the ball and link up play with strike partner Troy Deeney in recent performances hints at a good player trying to break out, but for now a lack of confidence is preventing him from achieving his undoubted potential.

Per average match, he has an xG (expected goals) of 0.73 and a total xG of 5.62 for the whole campaign, yet his solitary strike highlights just why he has come in line for harsh criticism and also provides further evidence to suggest that his profligate form is having a negative effect on the club's overall points tally.

The question therefore is: how long is too long to wait?

Encouraging performances don't win football matches and a point will eventually be reached where it isn't prudent to have Gray on the pitch, simply because he almost scored in his previous match, or looked positive in training, especially when his presence in the team is keeping sharper finishers like Joao Pedro, (six goals from 22 appearances and two assists) on the bench.

The Hornets are already in a position where the top two could open a five point gap on them, should Swansea win their two matches in hand, meaning all points are now increasingly precious and time in which to be patient is a luxury that is in increasingly short supply.

Picture: PA

One might be minded then to continue using Gray, but only as a substitute, should the team need added attacking threat late on in a game.

The 29-year-old has previously shown that he is a handy person to introduce to an ongoing match, with a third of the goals he scored in the 18/19 season, his most successful at Vicarage Road, coming from substitute appearances.

However, a few cameos here and there are unlikely to provide him sufficient opportunity to rediscover the type of form that encouraged Gino Pozzo to shell out a then record fee for his services back in 2017 and with Stipe Perica and Isaac Success due to return from injury shortly, there will be other attackers who will feel they are just as deserving of a chance to prove themselves.

That transfer fee remains part of the wider problem surrounding Gray as well, as does his five figure weekly wage packet, which has already been cut recently as a result of the club's relegation and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Should he be sold, Watford would want to recoup a healthy portion of that money, while the striker would be unlikely to accept a salary significantly lower than the one he is currently earning.

His current form has not exactly got suitors lining up to acquire his services and, although there was tentative interest from West Bromwich Albion during the summer, he was understood to be a few places down on their list of priorities and nothing materialised prior to deadline day.

Keeping him on the bench does little to change that, as it takes him out of the shop window and reduces the number of available opportunities to move him on for a decent price, although for now it could also be argued that having him on the pitch isn't doing their chances much good either, creating an undesirable paradox, from which the only escape is for Gray to begin performing.

In order for that to happen, he needs to be given more chances, which leads right back to the beginning of the whole frustrating cycle.

Another issue that needs to be considered when discussing Gray, supporters' opinions of him and how attractive a proposition he is to other clubs is his behaviour off the pitch.

Twice he has breached coronavirus lockdown regulations, with the second incident landing him a police fine as well as subjecting him to in-house disciplinary measures from the club.

For some supporters the first of those two breaches was enough to convince them that cutting their losses and parting ways was the right thing to do, while many more were in agreement following the second infraction.

Nevertheless, he continues to play on and with every fumbled shot or misplaced pass, he both widens the gap growing between himself and the club's supporters and further diminishes the chances of finding an agreeable solution to the situation.

Releasing him from his contract is currently not a decision that makes any financial sense, with some resale potential still remaining, but it could be argued that a tipping point is not too far beyond the horizon where the return is simply not worth the cost.

His current contract runs for another season after this one and, if he's still around then, it will be interesting to see what decision is made on his future.

For now, he is very much a part of the squad and still seen as a player worth remaining patient with. How long that lasts is ultimately down to him.