Brighton boss Gus Poyet is boosted by the return of three players for Saturday's Championship clash with Watford at the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls were last in action on December 18 and the prolonged break has allowed Gary Dicker, Andrea Orlandi and Bruno to return to training.

Full-back Bruno has missed the last two games with an Achilles injury, while midfielder Dicker has been out for almost a month with a knee problem.

Spanish midfielder Orlandi has recovered from a rib injury but could be restricted to a role on the bench.

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola will be tempted to stick with the same XI that he had already named for the Boxing Day clash at Bristol City before the encounter fell foul of the weather.

The Hornets were ready to play the fixture at Ashton Gate, which was initially delayed due to torrential rain before a pitch inspection at 3.10pm deemed the waterlogged surface unplayable.

Due to the late nature of the postponement, Zola had already submitted his starting line-up which showed one enforced change from the side that disposed of Nottingham Forest last Saturday.

Ikechi Anya came in for suspended defender Marco Cassetti, whose one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards will now see him sit out against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Although Zola, who likes to tinker with his XI, could opt to mix things up and keep the Seagulls guessing ahead of the late kick-off time.

Striker Fernando Forestieri (hamstring) and defender Lloyd Doyley (calf) continue to be monitored, while fit-again pair John Eustace and Nyron Nosworthy lack match practice.