With three games in the next seven days and two long away trips, Watford will be going deep into their squad to try and retain their place in the Championship’s top 10.

Head coach Tom Cleverley expects to use pretty much all of the fit members of his squad, starting with Saturday's trip to Sheffield Wednesday, a visit to Swansea on Tuesday night and then a home game with Oxford United next Friday.

“Come the end of the next week I’m sure we will have used 17 or 18 players in a starting capacity and maybe as many as 20 playing some sort of minutes in the three games,” he said.

“The squad need to understand we will need numbers over the next week and everyone has to be ready.

“We’ll need everyone to be switched on and focussed, and physically and mentally ready.”

The week ahead is in stark contrast to the seven days just gone, as the Hornets have not had a midweek game.

“These weeks are always nice because you feel you can get some quality work done and prepare for the next opposition in detail,” said Cleverley.

“So I enjoy these weeks, and it’s complete opposite to next week because we are playing Saturday, Tuesday, Friday.”

Two players who will definitely not feature at Hillsborough after defender Jeremy Ngakia, who is still not back to full fitness, and midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru.

“I can’t really give a timescale with Tom and we’re assessing every day. There’s a bit of swelling around the knee that we’re trying to get control of,” Cleverley explained.

“It’s difficult to put a time on it but it certainly looks weeks rather than anything more. He almost certainly won’t be involved in the three games coming up.”

Mattie Pollock fell awkwardly during Saturday’s win over Blackburn and played on with his arm strapped up.

“He had a little bit of ligament damage in his elbow which led to a bit of instability, but luckily it’s his elbow and we just need to manage him and maybe not take throw-ins,” explained the head coach.

Summer signing Kevin Keben made his Watford debut earlier in the week, scoring during the Under-21’s 7-0 thrashing of Colchester United.

The defender has been recovering from injury since joining the club and may need another Under-21 run-out before being ready for senior action.

Meanwhile, striker Daniel Jebbison has not been in the last two matchday squads.

Cleverley said the on-loan Bournemouth player had worked hard in training on improving the areas highlighted that needed attention and “he’ll be playing some sort of minutes in the next three games for sure”.