Watford head coach Marco Silva has challenged Troy Deeney and others to make him change his mind about leaving them out.

Skipper Deeney has yet to start a Premier League game under the new Hornets boss and was brought on for the closing stages of last weekend's thrashing by Manchester City when the result was already beyond doubt.

Silva, though, has no issue with the approach of the forward, who has seen club-record £18.5million summer signing Andre Gray the preferred option in attack.

"Troy is our captain and he did a very good season last season," the Portuguese coach said.

"He needs minutes in his legs, but what I saw of him in training is someone who works hard. I believe he wants more minutes, like all the others, and he works hard for that, this is the most important (thing) for me."

Silva added at a press conference: "It is normal for the seven who stay on the bench to be frustrated.

"After they come here (to training), if they are unhappy, what they need to show is what Troy and the others try to do (and that is) to show to me they want to play in the first XI."