Fifteen senior players are definitely unavailable to Slaven Bilić for Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup third-round tie at Reading (January 7, 12.30pm KO).

The injury list stands at 13, Hassane Kamara is suspended and Matheus Martins continues to await his international clearance.

Young Canada international Ismaël Koné will be available to add to Watford’s midfield options. He will wear squad number 11.

The injury absentee list reads as follows:

• Defenders: Christian Kabasele (hamstring), Kortney Hause (knee)

• Midfielders: Imrân Louza (leg), Hamza Choudhury (knee), Tom Cleverley (achilles), Dan Gosling (achilles), Ken Sema (hamstring), Tom Dele-Bashiru (ankle), Edo Kayembe (calf)

• Forwards: João Pedro (ankle), Keinan Davis (hamstring), Rey Manaj (hamstring), Samuel Kalu (hamstring)

Hornets’ supporters should expect to see a number of the club’s Academy players feature at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Saturday, with over 2,000 fans set to make the trip to Berkshire.