Craig Cathcart backs Watford to pull themselves out of slump

Craig Cathcart is confident Watford can turn things around after slipping into the bottom half of the table with four straight defeats.

The Hornets face Newcastle at Vicarage Road tomorrow looking for their first win since Christmas.

“You do not become a bad team overnight,” said Cathcart. “We have got to stick together and the results will improve. Perhaps it just is not going our way at the moment. If you look at the position we are in, we would have taken that, so there is a lot to be positive about. Every team goes through tough spells so, hopefully, this is ours and we get it out of the way.”

Manager Quique Sanchez Flores says his players are tired because of the busy mid-season schedule and Cathcart admits the festive period took its toll on the squad. “Every team goes through it,” said the defender. “Everyone goes on about how difficult that period is. But the next few weeks we will be playing Saturday-Saturday so hopefully we will get our energy back and start showing what we can do again.”

Watford this week signed Nordin Amrabat from Malaga and more new arrivals are expected before the end of the window. Cathcart hopes new signings can give Watford a lift.

“You want the players who come in to hit the ground running and make an impact,” he said. “So, hopefully, the players we get in can do that and benefit the team.”

Defender Nathan Ake added: “We are in a good position. We want to get back to winning ways and this will be a good opportunity to do that.

“However Newcastle have big threats up front, they have Jonjo Shelvey as well who is a good player in midfield. They will be strong throughout.”