Pablo Zabaleta to Return Against Watford

The Blues longest-tenured field player is about to return to action. Pablo Zabaleta has not played since October 17th against Bournemouth and his absence has been felt by a Blues team severely lacking in lacking leadership. The Argentine right back spoke to MCFC's official website about his return.

"The knee feels really good and I've felt great in training over the past few days,"

"I started full training again a few days before the Sunderland game so it was too soon to return because I needed a few intense sessions with the team to get my sharpness back but it felt good to be on the bench again at Leicester."

"I damaged the same ligament as I injured earlier in the season, just a slightly different area. It was just bad luck more than anything and I've seen a specialist to make sure I come back 100% and not make this a recurring injury. I've had a few injections and as I say, now I feel great and ready to go.

"Now I just need a few matches to get right back up to speed because it's been quite a while since I played. I'm looking to get involved as soon as possible with so many games to come in January and it's important that we have as many players fit as possible for such an important part of the season."

On Watford, the Blues next opponent who were in excellent form before a heartbreaking loss to Spurs on Monday:

"It will be a tough game and they've done really well to be so high in the Premier League at this stage of the season," he said.

"They look really solid as a team and they have a really good manager in Quique Sanchez Flores who I know from my time in Spain where he managed Valencia and Atletico Madrid. I think he's doing a great job, though it doesn't surprise me.

"They have some really hard-working players as well with Deeney and Ighalo are playing really well - they have scored a lot of Watford's goals this season and we're expecting nothing less than a really tough match.

"I've never played at Vicarage Road before but from what I've seen on TV it's a really tight ground with the crowd right on top of you so we have to be prepared for everything."

The Blues beat the Hornets 2-0 in September at the Etihad Stadium. Watford currently sits just outside a European position in the Premier League.