King Season Over

Watford's welcome first victory of the Premiership season against Middlesbrough has been tempered by the fact that leading striker, Marlon King is set to miss the rest of the campaign with a serious knee complaint.

Manager, Aidy Boothroyd revealed the loss of the Jamaican International during his after-match press conference on Saturday evening, and it is a bitter blow to the 26-year-old who was the Golden Boys' leading marksman last season.

King originally complained of swelling to his knee following Watford's visit to Arsenal early last month, and a period of rehabilitation seemed to have set the striker on the road to recovery.

However, after returning to training last week King suffered a reaction leaving Boothroyd to confirm,

"I learnt of the news late last night. Marlon went in for a routine operation yesterday on his cartilage and unfortunately they found some bone had flaked away from his femur.

It's a blow, to lose such an important player and a great character.

But Marlon will be back and he will be stronger for it. He'll be in the dressing room alongside us, he will be my assistant."