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After AFCON snub, Dennis to miss Watford’s FA Cup clash vs Leicester

WATFORD are highly likely to be without Emmanuel Dennis for their FA Cup fixture against Leicester City on Saturday.

The Nigerian forward is Watford’s top scorer this season with eight goals but he is nursing an injury that is expected to rule him out of the third round tie at the King Power Stadium.

Dennis was prevented from joining up with the Super Eagles squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which begins on Sunday in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Watford exploited a delay in a tournament precall from the Nigeria Football Federation to block Dennis, although there are reports the player himself was not keen on attending the tournament.

Incidentally, Dennis has struggled with fitness issues since then; he was taken off at half-time during the Premier League defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 1 January.

Watford’s official website wrote: “Emmanuel Dennis looks set to miss Saturday’s trip to Leicester City in the FA Cup third round with a slight knock.

“The Nigerian forward was withdrawn at half-time against Tottenham Hotspur and is unlikely to be risked at the King Power Stadium.

“Ben Foster (groin) has been training with the team and is getting closer to full fitness, while Christian Kabasele (calf) returned to training in the latter part of this week and Kiko Femenía (hamstring) hopes to re-join the group at London Colney next week.

“Kwadwo Baah (ankle), Peter Etebo (quad) and Nicolas Nkoulou (hamstring) continue to work on their long-term injuries, while Imrân Louza, Adam Masina, Ismaïla Sarr and William Troost-Ekong are away with their national teams.”

Watford have a tough trip against the Foxes, who are the current holders of the FA Cup.

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