Walter Mazzarri expects Troy Deeney to kick on after scoring his 100th goal
Thursday 29 December 2016 19:14, UK
Watford boss Walter Mazzarri expects forward Troy Deeney to kick on after bagging his 100th goal for the club on Boxing Day.
The 28-year-old Hornets skipper had to wait 10 games to reach the landmark and was surprisingly named among the subs for the visit of Crystal Palace, before coming off the bench and scoring the equaliser from the spot.
He has become just the fifth Watford player to reach three figures for the club and Mazzarri hopes Deeney can find the target again when Spurs visit on New Year's Day.
"I hope he will be different," said Mazzarri. "I congratulated him on his achievement.
"I think he will have the weight he has been carrying out of his head and that helps him a lot."
The manager wanted to rest his captain against the Eagles but was forced to bring him on after just 14 minutes, following an injury to Valon Behrami.
And Watford's injury issues mean Deeney may be needed from the start against Spurs.
Mazzarri said: "I will see because I need to understand what type of formation we are going to play up front. Depending on that, we will see what kind of striker to use.
"For sure we have got (Odion) Ighalo and Deeney who are okay, but Jerome Sinclair is also available. I need to know how to rotate them.
"Also, with Nordin Amrabat, he is very tired but last year he used to play as a striker, even though this year he has been playing in different positions.
"We could play him there."
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