Marco Silva has revealed that Brice Dja Djdeje has not featured so far this season due to footballing reasons.

Dja Djdeje recently slammed Watford for not allowing him to leave Vicarage Road over the summer and while such comments most certainly have not done his first team chances any good, Silva has insisted that the 26-year-old has not featured so far due to footballing reasons rather than because of his controversial comments.

Silva said: "He had a crucial injury in my opinion as a coach I had to decide. I have three right-backs to choose from, [Daryl] Janmaat, Kiko [Femenia] and Djedje.

"One of these right-backs didn't play to much last season with a big injury. He started the pre-season and I am happy for him.

"But he had an injury in his finger and then his knee and he lost four weeks of pre-season. After we had to make a decision who made the 25."