Watford boss Walter Mazzari: Roberto Pereyra absence not short
Thursday 15 December 2016 19:05, UK
Walter Mazzari is not expecting Roberto Pereyra back soon as he awaits details of the Argentine's knee injury.
The summer signing was substituted before half-time as Watford were beaten 2-0 at Manchester City on Wednesday and is still awaiting the results of a scan.
Mazzari is confident Pereyra has avoided serious damage but is facing up to the possibility of losing his playmaker for the festive period.
"We still have to wait for some evaluations of the MRI and scans," the Hornets boss said. "Then we will be able to give an answer, probably after the next game.
"For sure it won't be too short. From my experience I have a feeling that it's not a terrible, terrible injury, but at the same time I think it's not very short as an injury."
Watford go to Sunderland on Saturday with captain Troy Deeney still waiting for his 100th goal for the club, more than two months after scoring his 99th.
"These are moments that can happen for a forward to have in his career," Mazzarri said. "He was unlucky last week because he had chances to score and didn't. These are moments that for a striker can happen.
"Maybe he's feeling the pressure of these 100 goals but for us it's just important he plays for the team and then scores. I'm not sure if it will be good for him to have had a rest or not, we will see."
Deeney's tally of three goals this season is two down on that of Etienne Capoue, who is operating higher up this season and is earning comparison's with a star man from Mazzari's time at Napoli.
"He reminds me of Marek Hamsik as a player," the Italian said. "I think he's very similar, a player that comes from behind and goes to score as well. He's got a good shot, good qualities to play in that position."
