Watford are waiting to hear on results of an assessment on an hamstring injury scare suffered by striker Andre Gray in their 4-1 win over Preston on Saturday, manager Vladimir Ivic has revealed.

Gray, who spent a spell on the sidelines earlier in the season with a similar problem, started for Watford on Saturday, as they climbed to third in the Championship table with victory at Vicarage Road.

However, Gray was forced off after just half an hour of the match with an apparent hamstring issue, and Ivic is now waiting to discover the severity of the blow.

Speaking about Gray's setback after the game, Ivic told The Watford Observer: "We understood today that after two months out injured, Andre Gray played a second game. Something's happened with the hamstring, I know that it's not the same position what he had.

"But again, I cannot say something more because I think it's the same leg, but it's not the same position of the other injury. We need to wait until tomorrow and to get information."

Having missed pre-season due to injury, Gray is one of several members of Watford's squad who Ivic feels is more at risk to injury with the heavy schedule this season.

Discussing the impact of the consistent stream of fixtures, the Hornets boss added: "We have a lot of guys who didn't do the preseason. And in every three days, four days you have the games, you need to think who is ready to play, who is not ready to play and we know that we have a lot of players out of the squad.

"It's not just in this moment, it's from the beginning, from the first day. I don't remember that I had one game where I had the players to tell you that I have 90% of the squad."

So far this season, Gray has made six league appearances for Watford, scoring once in their 3-2 win over Coventry at the start of November.

The Verdict

This could be a blow for both club and player if it turns out to be serious.

With games coming at such a regular basis, and Ivic clearly and understandably concerned about the toll that could take on his players, losing Gray would hamper his scope to rotate when he needs it most.

For Gray himself, this will generate a deal of frustration, given he was finally getting to enjoy a run in the side again, and the fact the problem in somewhere he has previously had issues, will no doubt prompt some concern over whether this could become a long-term setback for him to overcome.