Weekend Briefing: Strugglers Watford short on numbers for visit of Chelsea

Watford injury update

Premier League basement boys Watford are still searching for their first league victory and the last week has been costly with midfielders Tom Cleverley (heel) and Domingos Quina (groin) joining the injury list.

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores made eight changes for Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at Everton in the EFL Cup fourth round and several key players will be absent for their home fixture with Chelsea.

Troy Deeney is still working his way back after a knee operation and Danny Welbeck (hamstring) faces two-to-three months on the sidelines.

However, the Hornets may be able to welcome back key midfielder Etienne Capoue (back), who has returned to full training.

And Jose Holebas is available after missing last Saturday's 0-0 draw at home to Bournemouth with a one-game suspension.

Double boost for Wigan

Wigan are battling to extricate themselves from the lower reaches of the Sky Bet Championship table but they had some good news this week with two key players - midfielder Lee Evans and attacker Josh Windass - shaking off injury problems.

Evans has recovered from the calf problem which ruled him out for the whole of October while Windass is clear of the minor calf strain which sidelined him for last Sunday's 2-2 draw at Bristol City.

Both are in contention for their clash at home to Swansea but centre-back Charlie Mulgrew (hamstring) is still short of full fitness.

Crawford blow for Bolton

Bolton have been battling against the odds all season and their problems increased on Tuesday when midfielder Ali Crawford suffered a knee injury during a 3-1 success over Manchester City Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

The victory gives the Trotters a decent chance of reaching the EFL knockout stages but Crawford's injury, described as "potentially serious" by Bolton manager Keith Hill, is the last thing they need.

Bolton went into the midweek match without nine injured players - Ben Alnwick, Joe Bunney, Liam Bridcutt, Josh Earl, Jack Hobbs, Jake Wright, Harry Brockbank, Will Buckley and Liam Edwards.

Crawford has been a key player and his loss is a huge blow as Hill's side prepare to host promotion-chasing Fleetwood.

Oxford lose Brannagan

Oxford have caught the eye with a string of impressive results and performances but their surge up the Sky Bet League One table could be undermined by the absence of influential midfielder Cameron Brannagan, who faces a spell out with a knee injury.

Brannagan suffered a knock during last Saturday's 3-0 victory at home to Rochdale and was replaced at half-time.

The 23-year-old was unavailable when Oxford advanced to the EFL Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, drawing 1-1 at home to Sunderland and winning 4-2 on penalties. And he is likely to miss many more games, having been sent for a scan.

Oxford manager Karl Robinson said: "We just hope its not a bad one, for him most importantly because he's probably been the best player in League One this season."

Right-back Chris Cadden (hamstring) was another casualty last weekend, joining Brannagan, Malachi Napa, Ben Woodburn and George Thorne in a crowded Oxford treatment room.

Bad news for Sky Blues

Matt Godden has been Coventry's star striker this season, scoring four goals in 14 appearances, but he will not be seen in a Sky Blues shirt until next year after being diagnosed with a pelvic bone injury which may require surgery.

Godden was absent from Coventry's 2-2 draw at Peterborough on Saturday. Manager Mark Robins said: "Matty is going to be out for a long time. It will be between three or four months, so that's the disappointing thing."

The challenge for Robins is to fill the void in the meantime and he will have been encouraged by strikers Amadou Bakayoko and Max Biamou, who both scored at the weekend.

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