David Unsworth has praised Watford but has called on his Everton players to “concentrate on what we do” as they bid to halt their awful run of form on Sunday.

The Toffees have lost their last five matches and are on an eight-game run without a win in all competitions, dropping to 18th in the Premier League table as a result. Depending on tomorrow’s results, they could find themselves second-from-bottom by the time Sunday’s game kicks off.

Although the Hornets head to Goodison Park following back-to-back defeats, their last away trip to Chelsea resulted in a first loss on the road for Marco Silva’s men this season and Unsworth said: “I think they’ve been terrific. I think they’ve performed really well. They’re a strong, powerful team and it will be a tough game on Sunday.

“But I’d like us to concentrate on what we do. We will respect them as we would normally do, they’ve had a great start to the season but when you’ve got 40,000 Evertonians behind you, you’re playing hopefully with that confidence that they will bring to us.”

Silva has been among those linked with the Goodison Park vacancy but when this was put to the caretaker boss at his pre-match press conference, he responded: “I wouldn’t know whether he’s been linked or not because I haven’t had time to see that. But they’ve certainly started well.”

Unsworth rested senior players Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka for last night’s 3-0 Europa League exit at Lyon, and confirmed they “will all be available for” Sunday’s clash. The caretaker boss is also optimistic of having Michael Keane available after injury to bolster a defensive unit that has conceded at least twice in each of those five successive defeats.

With Everton expected to make a permanent successor to Ronald Koeman during the international break, this weekend’s match is set to be Unsworth’s final ‘audition’ for the role. But the message from the man currently in the Goodison hot-seat was unchanged.

“Like I said last night after the game and I’ve said in a couple of press conferences, it’s not about me,” the 44-year-old said. “I stand there proud to be Everton manager, but it’s about what’s best for the club.

“Sunday’s a massive game for the club. It’s a great game, it’s a great opportunity to get back to winning ways and Sunday’s about Everton Football Club.

"We need a win, we need a win for the fans, we need a win for the players desperately to give them some confidence. We all need to come together and be together to win a game of football.”