Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League clash at Vicarage Road on Saturday
After a convincing victory at Burnley last time out, Jose Mourinho was asked whether Manchester United might have been hoping to get straight back out on the field rather than having to see out an international break before their trip to Watford on Saturday.
“I would like to play, but I think also Watford would like to play,” he told reporters. “Because they also have the momentum of leading after four matches, four victories.”
And therein lies the difference between the two sides heading into the fixture at Vicarage Road on Saturday, with United playing catch-up after losing two of their opening four games and Javi Gracia’s side flying high alongside Liverpool and Chelsea with a 100 per-cent record.
United will be looking to pocket three crucial points from the trip south before travelling to Switzerland for the start of their Champions League campaign against Young Boys on Wednesday.
Luke Shaw ought to miss out after suffering concussion following a heavy knock playing for England against Spain, but United are hopeful he could return after receiving treatment in the club’s special medical facility.
Marouane Fellaini missed out on Belgium duty completely due to a minor back problem, while Phil Jones was absent from the trip to Burnley due to hamstring trouble. Diogo Dalot, though, could make his United debut having come through an under-23s fixture with no adverse effects.
Sergio Romero is in contention for his first squad call-up of the season after being an unused substitute in both of Argentina’s games during the international break.
Marcus Rashford misses the next three Premier League games having been sent off against Burnley for a retaliatory head-butt.
The question mark over Marouane Fellaini could force Jose Mourinho into one change in midfield, while Luke Shaw’s concussion would see United needing to make a second alteration to the side which won at Burnley.
If both miss out then one of Fred and Ander Herrera is likely to step up into midfield, while Ashley Young should make his second start of the season – and first at left-back – in place of Shaw.
Otherwise Mourinho is unlikely to make too many changes to his winning XI.
Javi Gracia’s Hornets have stunned almost everyone by getting off to a flying start in 2018-19, registering four wins from their opening four Premier League games.
Last time out they came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Vicarage Road, ending Spurs’ 100 per-cent start.
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Gracia has enjoyed the luxury of being able to pick the same starting XI for all four of their Premier League games so far, meaning Troy Deeney and Andre Gray are settled as Watford’s strike partnership while Roberto Pereyra has been given the freedom to pull up trees with his excellent form from midfield. The ex-Udinese and Juventus star has three goals to his name already.
Elsewhere, Christian Kabasele and Abdoulaye Doucoure have been in scintillating form down the spine of the side, and United will be wary of a Watford side coming into Saturday’s game full of confidence.
The match at Vicarage Road kicks off at 5:30pm BST on Saturday, with live coverage in the UK provided on BT Sport 1 from 5pm. In the U.S. the game will be shown on NBCSN at 12:30pm ET.