Watford injury crisis is taking its toll, admits Mazzarri

Ahead of three games in a week, starting with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has revealed his difficulties in integrating youngsters into first team action.

Like all Premier League clubs at Christmas, Watford’s squad is being tested to the limit during a crowded festive period, prompting Mazzarri to turn to youth.

Watford’s squad has been decimated by injuries and Mazzarri is contemplating including teenagers such as defender Brandon Mason or striker Michael Folivi on the bench against Spurs.

Mazzarri said: “They are very young players and already since last week three have been training with us and we will see if one of them will deserve to be on the bench for the way they have been working. Most probably we will need one of them so we will see.

(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I prefer not to say too much but Brandon Mason is a good left footed player while Michael Folivi is a very good young player but it depends on what position I will need so I still don’t know.

“I like to make young players grow and start in the first team, but you need to understand also the type of competition. It’s one thing doing it in a lower division and another thing at the highest level.

“It’s very important to understand you need to maintain the same competitive level while playing Under-23 players or new youngsters. This is a balance which is very difficult to achieve especially in a difficult competition like the Premier League.

“We are already trying it because players like Isaac Success or Jerome Sinclair are very young and have been slowly entering the pitch.”