'The squad is running thin' - Cleverley

Image source, Rex Features

Watford manager Tom Cleverley says his squad is being severely tested in a busy run of games.

The Hornets were beaten 1-0 at Swansea on Tuesday night and have a quick turn around before entertaining Oxford on Friday.

"The squad is running thin, we've got suspensions, we've got injuries and three games in six days but we'll find solutions for Friday," Cleverly told 大象传媒 Three Counties Radio.

Forward, Kwadwo Baah was introduced as a second-half substitute at Swansea and made an impression with his pace but Cleverley admits he couldn't play him from the start.

"Baah's got a niggle and I wasn't even planning on using him for as long as I did.

"We're trying to reduce his load this week so he can play on Friday - he had a fantastic impact but the plan was to only use him for half an hour."

Cleverley will be able to recall Ryan Porteous from suspension for the game against Oxford but will now be without Francisco Sierralta after he collected a fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat by Swansea.