A game live on Sky Sports at the end of a very inconsistent week ahead of an international break.

Tomorrow night’s home match with Oxford United at Vicarage Road (8pm) brings with it a level of pressure that Tom Cleverley believes should inspire his players.

Victory will mean Watford are likely to be sat in the top six of the Championship when fixtures are paused next week for the international games.

“Football is about pressure, and this is where we want to be,” said Cleverley.

“We should all want to play for high stakes, and that is what tomorrow night is all about.

“It’s a pivotal game for us, and could be a significant one for our ambitions going forward.

“With us losing on Tuesday, it makes the game even bigger.

“Home has been a real source of points for us, and there is a feeling of confidence and belief that we’re building something special.

“We have to produce a performance to continue that.

“I’ve let the players know this is a huge game for us.

“We’ve had eight away games and six at home so far, and this game is a good chance for us to solidify a good start.

“I sat down with the media at the start of the season, and I think I said then we’d reassess around the November international break.

“Here we are, at that point, with a chance to win and stay in the top six. I think that will be a significant result towards where our ambitions lie.”

In terms of his squad, Cleverley has limited options as the back as Francisco Sierralta is suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the season at Swansea, while Kevin Keben is ruled out through injury.

Ryan Porteous, who served a one-match ban at Swansea, is available again.

“Keben has had a small setback, which is understandable when you’ve been out for so long and these things can happen when you’re returning,” said the head coach, adding that Festy Ebosele was limping at the end of Tuesday night’s game due to nothing more serious than cramp

“Both Kwadwo Baah and Rocco Vata are available for selection so that brings us more bodies from an attacking perspective.

“The three who have been out for a while now, Dele-Bashiru, Ogbonna and Ngakia, are still out but progressing.”

Losing Sierralta is a setback with the Chile international having played so well since returning from injury.

“He won’t be available until after the international break now, and he’s someone that has come back in and done fantastically well,” said Cleverley.

“In and out of possession, he completely understands what we want from him and he’s been a rock at the back for us.”

The game with Oxford will end a week of three fixtures, two of which involved long journeys.

“Friday games do bring different challenges but then both teams are in the same boat,” said Cleverley.

“You can’t do a lot of work on the training pitch in these three-game week situations.

“It is literally play, rest and recovery, with one light training session in preparation for the next game.

“You do have to miss out on time on the pitch, and so it’s a lot of video meetings to try and reflect on the previous performance and improve, and then prepare for the next one.

“This week and the Christmas week are the two most demanding on everybody around the club.

“As staff, that is where we have to be adaptable. I’ve always said we believe in our squad, and we’ll find solutions not excuses.”