(Reuters) - Watford midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has recovered from a bout of appendicitis and could play in Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton and Hove Albion, manager Javi Gracia has said.
Doucoure, who was voted Watford's best player last season, has missed all of the club's pre-season matches due to illness. The 25-year-old Frenchman returned to full training this week.
"Doucoure is fit and in a good condition to play," Gracia told the club website https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/team-news-brighton-hove-albion. "He's player with great commitment, making a big effort every game."
Watford will be without forwards Stefano Okaka (thigh) and Gerard Deulofeu (groin), midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah (knee) as well as defender Ben Wilmot (knee) due to injuries.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley is out for longer as he recovers after having an operation on his Achilles tendon.
Watford finished 14th in the league last season.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)