Javi Gracia is unable to provide a return date for the injured Gerard Deulofeu, but insists the winger is progressing.

Deulofeu is yet to feature for the Hornets this season after completing a move to Vicarage Road from Barcelona during the summer transfer window.

The 24-year-old, who has been training with the first-team, will play no part against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow and Gracia confirmed it could be some time before Deulofeu is back in action.

“I think with his injury we have been patient and in this moment we need to keep patience because I do not know when he will be ready,” Gracia said.

“He started to take part in some parts of the training session with the rest of the team this week and I think for tomorrow he will not be ready yet.

“He feels good but I do not know if he will be ready in three days, five days, one week or two weeks. He needs time because we are in September and there are a lot of games to play.

“We need to know that when he comes back he is ready, I prefer that. In this moment we are training and working hard and we know he is feeling well in every step he is making.”

Deulofeu first experienced injury concerns last season when he suffered a stress fracture in his foot in February.

He returned to play three times before the end of the 2017/18 season but suffered further injury problems in the summer, including a complaint in his hip.

Gracia is eager to ensure Deulofeu is operating at 100 per cent before allowing him to return to the first-team fold.

“The problem in his foot is recovered but it is important when he comes back that he is feeling really well,” the Spanish head coach said.

“We see him in all the training sessions and he is improving. We have to wait for the moment when he is fully fit and then he can help us.”