Watford manager Alessio Dionisi has described the return to fitness of a clutch of first-team players during the international break as the equivalent of bringing in new recruits, as the Championship club look to arrest a run of back-to-back league defeats.

Who is back in contention?

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Dionisi confirmed that six players are now available for selection after missing significant time through injury. Soumaila Coulibaly, Jordan Zemura, Martin Payero, Omar Traore, Marc Bola and Travis Akomeah have all returned to the fold, joining recently signed winger Krepin Diatta in the available pool.

The significance of those returns is underlined by just how stretched the Hornets' squad had become in the weeks prior to the break. Watford were unable to name a full complement of substitutes in two of their final three matches before the international fixtures intervened, leaving Dionisi with limited options from the bench.

"It is better for us because now we have enough players to have two teams on the [training] pitch," the Italian told BBC Three Counties Radio.

Caution tempers optimism

While the mood around Vicarage Road appears to have lifted, Dionisi was measured in his assessment of how quickly the returning players can be integrated. He stressed that several of the fitness returnees are "not ready for 90 minutes", suggesting they are more likely to provide impact from the bench in the immediate term rather than being thrust straight into starting roles.

Three players, Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah, remain absent and are not expected back until after the next international break in November. Their continued absence means Dionisi still has planning to do, but the overall picture is considerably brighter than it was a fortnight ago.

"They will probably be ready after the next international break, but for me, we have a lot of 'new' players," Dionisi said, capturing the sense that a squad which has been badly depleted by misfortune is finally resembling the group he was brought in to manage when appointed in June.

A vital fixture looms

The timing matters. Watford head into Saturday's home fixture against bottom-of-the-table Burnley sitting in 20th place and in need of a positive result to ease any growing anxiety around the club's position. Back-to-back Championship defeats to Stoke City and Bristol City before the break left the Hornets in uncomfortable territory, and Dionisi acknowledged the results had not been good enough.

"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."

Despite the pressure that comes with sitting in the lower reaches of the table at this stage of the campaign, Dionisi struck a composed tone when reflecting on the international break. "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."

The bigger picture

For a manager still in the relatively early stages of his tenure in English football, the opportunity to work with something closer to a full squad in training will have been valuable. Understanding his players' capabilities and building collective patterns of play is far harder when large portions of the group are unavailable, and the extended break appears to have given Dionisi both rest and useful information.

Saturday's contest against Burnley offers a genuine opportunity to bank three points and begin climbing away from the wrong end of the second-tier table. Whether the returning players are ready to contribute from the start or will be eased back gradually, the depth they add to Watford's options could prove decisive over the weeks ahead.

Frequently asked

When do Watford play Burnley?
Watford host Burnley at Vicarage Road on Saturday, with the Hornets sitting in 20th place in the Championship going into the fixture.
Which Watford players are returning from injury?
Soumaila Coulibaly, Jordan Zemura, Martin Payero, Omar Traore, Marc Bola and Travis Akomeah have all returned to fitness during the international break, according to manager Alessio Dionisi.
Which Watford players are still injured?
Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah remain absent and are not expected to be available until after the November international break, Dionisi confirmed.