Another bout with injury has ostensibly led to Isaac Success dropping down to number four in the ranking of strikers at Watford of England, as The Hornets’ manager, Javi Gracia is now rating Andre Gray ahead of the Super Eagles hitman.
Such it was in the hours heading into Watford’s home game against Leicester City, with Gracia hinting that he would give Gray a rare start, to make up for lost days behind Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu.
Gracia did not even give a mention about Success, as the former Malaga of Spain and Rubin Kazan of Russia boss said he wanted to focus on maintaining consistency.
The Watford gaffer admitted he was wary of what Leicester would offer on Sunday under their new boss, Brendan Rodgers, as he also aimed to respond to a 5-0 midweek defeat away to Liverpool.
Despite their poor show at Anfield, for which recuperating Success was again missing in the matchday squad, The Hornets were able to remain on course for a top-half finish this season, which they have never achieved in the English Premier League.
Watford could yet secure seventh place, which would represent their best top-flight campaign since 1983, and Gracia admits he is determined to take things one match at a time in pursuit of the end.
Gracia, who replaced Marco Silva in January 2018 and recently agreed a new contract extension, was mum on the availability of Success, but the gaffer indicated that he could hand Gray an opportunity against The Foxes, following some impressive displays by the forward when getting off the bench.
He expatiated: “Andre is always a good option for us. He showed this against Everton when he came on and scored an important goal for the team, and it is true in the last games he had some chances to score and he is playing well.
“Andre is competing against Troy (Deeney), who in Cardiff scored two goals, and Gerard (Deulofeu) who scored three, so it is not easy. But it is good for the team because I know that the moment the team needs one of them they are ready to play.”
