Watford star Marvin Zeegelaar banned for three games after FA uphold red card

Watford will be without Marvin Zeegelaar at Selhurst Park on Tuesday after the club’s appeal against his red card at Burnley on Saturday was rejected.

Zeegelaar was sent off for a two‑footed lunge on Steven Defour and the defender will serve a three-match ban after the red card was upheld by the FA.

Watford head coach Marco Silva described the dismissal as “harsh, harsh, harsh” but the Hornets will now be without Zeegelaar for games against Huddersfield and Brighton as well as at Palace.

With Zeegelaar suspended, Jose Holebas looks set to start at left‑back.

Meanwhile, Watford captain Troy Deeney says he is happy at the club amid interest from Everton.

New Goodison Park manager Sam Allardyce is said to have made Deeney one of his top January targets but the forward is not pushing to leave Vicarage Road. He said: “I am happy where I am. If they (Everton) are linked with me then thank you for the compliment but I am not pushing for anything. I am eight years in [at Watford]. If I get to the summer and Watford say, ‘thanks Troy but we are done’, then no hard feelings.”

Deeney has made just five Premier League starts under Silva this season but the 29-year-old has started their past two matches.

“I am happy with life now,” he said. “I have never wanted to move. It is never about how much money I can earn. I am happy, I am content. If I do not earn more money then I am still better off than when I started 10 years ago.”

Watford, who have not won in three matches after they lost 1-0 at Burnley on Saturday, are set to be without injured defensive pair Miguel Britos and Kiko Femenia for tonight’s match.