Marco Silva says his focus is on his Watford players rather than the talents of Manchester City ahead of the side’s meeting at Vicarage Road.

The pair head into Saturday’s clash siting fourth and second respectively, with unbeaten records to boot, and the winner will be rewarded with a place at the summit of the Premier League table for at least 24 hours.

A frightening return of nine unanswered goals in their previous two outings adds fuel to the belief Pep Guardiola’s Citizens are hitting their stride.

Silva is as aware as anyone of the potency of the City attack, but insists, as ever, that the Hornets are more concerned about themselves than their opponents.

“We have our idea. We need to keep focused on the key players of the opponent but we don’t normally change our idea,” Silva explained.

“We know they will make us suffer a bit more and make us play more defensively than we want. Our attention is on us and it is always like that.

“We need to respect their players and pay attention to the idea of the opponents as well.”

Silva, who has hit the ground running with eight points from a possible 12 since joining Watford, will hope his side can replicate their recent defensive solidity.

Three clean sheets on the spin have seen the Hornets play with a grit which was starkly absent from their game last term, in spite of a ever-rotating cast in defence.

The run of form has, predictably, raised expectations among supporters, but Silva insists his ambition is unchanged from the initial target of Premier League survival he set on arrival.

“It is really hard in the Premier League to achieve three clean sheets in a row and we achieved something very important to us,” the Portuguese said.

“We have started very well and got eight points and need to know what our goal is. It is important we do not lose our focus on what we are trying to achieve.

“I haven’t changed anything since I have been here and the target is the same. It is clear what we need to do to keep our club in the Premier League.”