Watford's Troy Deeney will walk FA Cup Final heartbreak tightrope as ban ends

Troy Deeney returns from the naughty step this weekend with Watford coach Javi Gracia aggrieved that his captain was a victim of unequal treatment.

Gracia is deeply unimpressed that Deeney sat out three games, plus the last 80 minutes against Arsenal, for swishing his forearm into Lucas Torreira’s face when Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic got spared for an elbow on Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta last weekend.

But there is no suggestion Deeney will tiptoe around against Azpilicueta and co at Stamford Bridge on Sunday to ensure he is not suspended for the FA Cup Final showpiece with Manchester City in a fortnight.

Gracia said: “Troy is an important player for us, on and off the pitch, because he has personality, character, ambition and desire.

“Always he is trying to help the rest of his team-mates – he is always thinking of them. He is something special for us. He doesn’t change. He is always like the person you see and he always has the same behaviour.

“It’s true, the outcomes (of the Deeney incident and Matic’s escape) were very different, and there was a similar situation as well in the second half at Leicester-Arsenal, with Torreira again and Jonny Evans. I don’t want referees showing other players a red card, because I think it is not fair. But, as I said at the time, I don’t believe Troy deserved his red card.”

When Watford last got to the FA Cup Final 35 years ago, their captain Wilf Rostron was suspended after being sent off undeservedly at derby rivals Luton.

But Gracia does not expect any reduced throttle from talisman Deeney in the build-up to Wembley, saying: “You never know what’s going to happen in games, training sessions or just walking down the street.

“For me, it is better to prepare for a final if you keep doing the same things, the same behaviour. It is better to live with normality every day.

“You know Troy — the best thing we can do is to try and keep doing what we have done all season.”

Defender Craig Cathcart has recovered from the hamstring twinge that curtailed his appearance in last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Wolves, but midfielder Etienne Capoue – likely to be voted Watford’s player of the season – will not be risked because of a minor groin problem.