The season may still be its relative infancy but a referee will be in charge at Vicarage Road for a second time in the new campaign when Watford face Sunderland on Saturday.

The EFL website has stated that Andy Davies has been appointed as the man in the middle for the fixture against the Championship’s second-placed side.

Davies was previously in charge for the Hornets’ 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the Carabao Cup during which he issued four yellow cards, including to Tom Dele-Bashiru, James Morris and substitute Antonio Tikvic.

Saturday will also be the second time the Hampshire referee has officiated in a Sunderland away match this season, having taken charge of their 2-0 victory at Cardiff City last month.

Those are two of the five league and cup matches Davies has refereed in the 2024/25 season to date in which he has shown a total of 25 yellow cards.

Graham Kane and George Byrne are due to be the assistant referees for the 3pm kick-off, with Alex Chilowicz the fourth official.