Team news: Ekwah returns for Middlesbrough, Ngakia and Bola closer to starts

Only long-term absentees Hector Kyprianou and Rocco Vata are unavailable for this weekend's trip to Middlesbrough, with 23 first-team players fit for the game.

That includes Pierre Ekwah, who Ed Still revealed on Tuesday was in France following the birth of his baby, while Jeremy Ngakia and Marc Bola could return to the starting XI.

More: Where it's gone wrong for Watford on the field during winless run

Though it comes too late in terms of making a meaningful difference to this season, the situation is a vast improvement from that which saw Still down to bare bones a few weeks ago.

The head coach said: "Everyone's shaping up very well.

"All of the injured back players are back in training, other than Rocco and Hector.

"Pierre Ekwah is back from his paternal leave, so we've had 23 players this week in training. Medically everyone's fit and it's now just a case of match fitness.

"Jeremy and Marc are getting much closer, but there's a difference between being medically fit and match fitness.

"It's been great to have Othmane Maamma back in the team and he'll be sharper now for those games. But it takes a little bit of time to get back into the rhythm and the tempo.

"They're lovely choices to have compared to where we've come from, when there were no choices to be made or difficult choices.

"Now they're difficult but positive choices."

Ed Still talks to the press (Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)

Turning better availability into a better performance is the challenge for Still, who has overseen a run of six matches without a win and three consecutive defeats without a goal.

He revealed strong words were exchanged at half-time and at the end of Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at West Brom and praised the way senior players have stood up since.

Still said: "It's been the players who have said a lot.

"The players have stood up and taken accountability for it internally.

"There were some serious words spoken at half-time and at the end of the game and the day after the game. The bigger players have taken responsibility in the dressing room.

"From Mattie Pollock to Imran Louza to James Abankwah - Egil Selvik and Jeremy Ngakia also.

"It's a tricky time for the team and for all of us, but we've been working harder than ever to make sure we go to Middlesbrough and put in the performance we expect to put in."

Vata and Kyprianou, meanwhile, are targeting a return to full fitness ahead of the summer after both undergoing surgery on hamstring and ankle injuries before Still took charge.

He said: "They're progressing really well. The target for them is to be back, fully fit, for the beginning of pre-season.

"It's really good to see how they've been progressing and what a good job the medical and performance staff have been doing with them."