Watford’s FA Cup third round trip to Reading tomorrow may be an all-Championship affair, but the game will be refereed by a Premier League official.

Peter Bankes has been appointed to take charge of the tie, which will see the injury-ravaged Hornets bidding to reach the fourth round for the first time in four seasons.

The Select Group 1 referee has taken charge of 16 games so far this season, eight of which have been in the top flight, and has shown a total of 70 yellow cards and one red.

Bankes was in charge of two Hornets fixtures last season and both ended in home defeats, the 2-0 loss to Wolves in September 2021 followed by the 1-0 reverse at the hands of Southampton the following month.

The Lancashire official is due to be assisted by Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh, with Tom Reeves the fourth official for the 12.30pm kick-off.