Watford crock Mauro Zarate is having his knee injury treated in Barcelona.

Zarate is visiting famed surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat.

The injury Zarate suffered would normally have kept him sidelined for at least six months - but Watford medical director Luca Gatteschi has revealed he will likely be back in action at least a month sooner.

"It is not a bad injury, but it is a big injury," he told the club's website. "Zarate will come back stronger. It is important he has a very good surgery and then a very accurate recovery. It takes time."

Gatteschi added: “He needs to have full function and a full recovery of the knee. We need to respect the time for a full recovery and not have any further risk to the knee."