Watford manager Alessio Dionisi has welcomed a significant injury boost ahead of Saturday's Championship fixture at Vicarage Road, describing the return of several first-team players as the equivalent of making fresh additions to his squad.

The Hornets head into the home meeting with Burnley sitting 20th in the second-tier table, having suffered consecutive defeats to Stoke City and Bristol City before the extended international break. The situation was compounded during that difficult run when Watford were unable to name a full bench in two of their final three matches, leaving Dionisi working with a heavily depleted group in training.

Returnees bolster Dionisi's options

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, the Italian confirmed that six players are back in contention: Soumaila Coulibaly, Jordan Zemura, Martin Payero, Omar Traore, Marc Bola and Travis Akomeah. New signing Krepin Diatta is also available following his recent arrival at the club.

"It is better for us because now we have enough players to have two teams on the [training] pitch," Dionisi said. The manager, who was appointed in June, added that having so many players returning from injury felt as though he had acquired an entirely new batch of players: "For me, we have a lot of 'new' players."

However, Dionisi was careful to temper expectations. He stressed that the returnees are "not ready for 90 minutes," suggesting he will need to manage their minutes carefully as the schedule resumes. The international break, he indicated, was used not only to help injured players recover but also to build understanding with those who joined the club more recently.

Three players still on the sidelines

Not all the news is positive. Dionisi confirmed that Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah remain absent and are unlikely to feature until after the next international break in November. Their continued absence means Watford's squad depth, while improved, is still not at full strength as they look to climb away from the bottom three.

The timing of the recoveries is nonetheless significant. Watford's recent inability to fill a complete substitutes' bench highlighted just how stretched the squad had become, and having six recognised first-teamers available again will at least give Dionisi genuine options both from the start and from the bench.

Bouncing back the priority

After back-to-back league defeats, Dionisi was keen to move past the setbacks and focus on what lies ahead. "We've played eight matches," he said. "The last matches, the results were not good for us and for now it's better for us to think to the future."

The manager also offered a candid reflection on how he is approaching what has been a challenging opening to the Championship campaign. "I love my job, I love my work. The international break was important to recover, to know better the new players and for me to see my family. But I stay well when I'm on the pitch."

Saturday's opponents, Burnley, are currently propping up the Championship table, which means Watford will be looking at the fixture as a genuine opportunity to arrest their slide and pick up points that could quickly change the complexion of their season. With a fuller squad at his disposal, Dionisi will be hoping the returning players can provide the spark Watford have lacked in recent weeks.

Whether those players are truly ready to make an impact from the start remains to be seen, but the mood around the club appears to have lifted during the break, and Dionisi sounds determined to translate that renewed energy into a positive result.

Frequently asked

Who is available for Watford against Burnley?
Alessio Dionisi has confirmed that Soumaila Coulibaly, Jordan Zemura, Martin Payero, Omar Traore, Marc Bola, Travis Akomeah and new signing Krepin Diatta are all available for selection, though he cautioned that the returning players are not yet ready for 90 minutes.
Who is still injured at Watford?
Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah remain sidelined. Dionisi indicated they are unlikely to return until after the November international break.
Where are Watford in the Championship table?
Watford are currently 20th in the Championship, having lost their last two league matches before the international break against Stoke City and Bristol City.