Watford boss Marco Silva has admitted he has a left-back problem - as Albion prepare to unleash Anthony Knockaert.

The Frenchman is set to start at Vicarage Road on Saturday.

And he will face a makeshift or inexperienced marker.

Jose Holebas, Watford’s only senior left-back, is suspended for Saturday’s clash.

Watford crashed out of the Carabao Cup at home to Bristol City on Tuesday and saw Holebas sent off in the second half.

Silva has been in the market for a left-sided full-back since taking over as Watford boss in the summer but has so far been frustrated in his efforts to bolster the ranks.

The Portuguese chief could hand 19-year-old Brandon Mason, who has made just two Premier League appearances, a start against the Seagulls but accepts the issue needs to be addressed.

Silva said: “I think it’s clear for everybody. I’ve said since the first match. It’s impossible to prepare for a season with only one left-back.

“It’s the same as preparing with four centre-backs or six midfielders - it’s normal. The situation with Jose is the same thing. Now we need to find one solution.”

To add to Silva’s woes, right-back Daryl Janmaat, injured in the opening game of the season against Liverpool, is not expected back until next month.

Silva added: “We have the problem with Janmaat too, so we don’t have a lot of solutions at the moment. We’ll see what I find.”

Knockaert has bad memories of Vicarage Road, where he suffered a dramatic play-off defeat with Leicester in 2013.

But he is set to make his first Premier League start for Albion after recovering from an ankle injury and playing 45 minutes or less in each of the last four matches.