Watford coach Walter Mazzarri is hopeful that Mauro Zarate’s injury is not as bad as first feared after he was forced off against West Ham United on Saturday.

The Argentine winger was instrumental in the first few minutes as he won his side a penalty, with club captain Troy Deeney converting it.

Their chances of victory took a blow when when Zarate went down injured before Andre Ayew then scored an equaliser.

Zarate received oxygen before leaving the field on a stretcher after twisting his knee just before the end of the first half.

Speaking after the match, Mazzarri admitted Zarate was in tears in the dressing room but scans on Sunday will reveal the extent of the damage.

“We will check it and we will probably know how serious it is tomorrow,” he said. ”He was in a lot of pain, and he was in tears, but we hope it’s not too bad.

“I saw he was not completely okay, after the first knock he felt something, but he kept telling me to wait. He wanted to stay on the pitch.

So there were two occasions when he hurt his knee.” Mazzarri’s comments suggest the midfielder could be out for some time and that will come as a blow ahead of next week’s clash against Southampton.

Watford will have home advantage and are priced at 3.20 to win, with the draw also at 3.20, while Southampton are the 2.25 favourites.