Mazzarri hoping fit strikers can start firing

Having lost four out of their last five Premier League games, Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri is hopeful a fully-fit front line can fire them back up the table.

The Italian claims a lack of opportunities to rest key target man Troy Deeney has seen the forward’s goals dry up, as he remains on 99 strikes for the Hornets.

Last season’s joint top scorer, Odion Ighalo, is stuck on two goals for the campaign, with midfielder Etienne Capoue leading the scoring charts with just five.

The Hornets have scored just 21 goals from their 17 Premier League fixtures so far, but the manager hopes that by getting summer signings Stefano Okaka and Isaac Success Ajayi back to full fitness, he will be able to give everyone more time to rest and find their form.

“For strikers not to have positive moments during the season, it can happen,” he explained.

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“We’ve had problems with many injuries which hasn’t helped Troy or Odion as they haven’t had a chance to rest, we couldn’t take them out to play other players.

“Troy has always been playing and when Ighalo went out the team for a couple of games, then he came back more rested and he was more positive and he is getting his form back.

“Now we’re hoping to get Success and Okaka back, and this will help both players to rest and come back in form.”