Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has admitted that captain Troy Deeney may be feeling the pressure to score his 100th goal for the club.

Deeney has been on the brink of the landmark since netting his 99th Hornets goal at the start of October, but he has since gone on a nine-match drought.

The 28-year-old is expected to return to the side against Sunderland on Saturday having been left out for the midweek defeat to Manchester City, and Mazzarri is hopeful that the rest will have done the striker good.

"These are moments that can happen for a forward to have in his career. He was unlucky last week because he had chances to score and didn't. These are moments that for a striker can happen," he told reporters.

"Maybe he's feeling the pressure of these 100 goals but for us it's just important he plays for the team and then scores. I'm not sure if it will be good for him to have had a rest or not, we will see."

Watford currently sit 11th in the Premier League table.