Comfort breeds complacency, and for Marco Silva a bevy of attacking options can only help counter such concerns at Watford.

The arrival of Andre Gray for a club record £18million last week, and the news Troy Deeney is in line to return from a groin injury at Bournemouth should, in the head coach’s opinion, do just that.

Add to the mix Stefano Okaka, who started the season with a goalscoring performance full of menace, which suggested he fancies a regular starting berth, and Watford’s striking options appear healthy.

While some would argue three into one in Silva’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation just won’t go, the Portuguese is delighted to have such options, and expects the trio to duke it out for a starting berth.

“I have no worries,” he said when quizzed on potential unrest. “It is good for the team, I am sure. In football, if the player does not have it clear in his mind that he is coming here to compete to play, then he is not the best player for me.

“It is good to have competition here day by day in all the sessions. This is what I want for the team in all positions.

“Every player has to come here every day to prove something to themselves and then to me.”

Okaka certainly set about proving his worth on Saturday, notching Watford’s first goal of the season in the 3-3 draw with Liverpool.

The burly forward’s display pleased Silva, who understands the importance of goals to attackers, but also stressed the importance of playing for the team.

He said: “He worked hard in the last weeks to get in the starting line-up for the last match. Football is competition and it is important not only for him but for all the strikers to score.

“I believe in our idea of how to play, they have a lot of important jobs and know what I want from the team.”

The fit-again Deeney, who has been back in training this week and could feature tomorrow, is likely to settle for little less than a leading role.

Again the 29-year-old, who has retained the captaincy under Silva, has been given no guarantees he will be first choice.

“That is my decision (whether Deeney is restored to the starting XI).I want Troy fit like all the others. After that it is a matter of competition,” he said.

Watford have still been linked with forwards despite their current options, and Silva spoke highly of Leicester City’s Islam Slimani.

He said: “If you ask me if I know the player? Of course I know the player, he worked with me three seasons ago.

“If I like the player? Of course I like the player. If he is a player who could help us? I am sure about that, but I can’t control the market.”