Watford’s decision not to start Fitz Hall at Leicester City was because of the player’s fitness, tactics and an interest in seeing Marco Cassetti at centre half, according to their head coach.

Hall has made a noticeable improvement to the Hornets defensively when he has been selected this season.

After a stellar display against Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday, when the Hornets kept a clean sheet after shipping eight goals in the previous two matches, many expected Hall to start, barring injury.

It was confirmed before and after the match that Hall wasn’t carrying an injury but Sannino suggested the experienced centre half may not have been 100 per cent fit when asked why the 33-year-old did not start.

He said: “Fitz worked a lot in the last match against Brighton and I was interested to see Cassetti play in this position. I think he did well today.”

When asked if Hall, who has struggled with injuries in the past, found it difficult to play three games in eight days, Sannino replied: “I have to choose XI players; I would like to choose more on a match-day.

“It was a decision I made taking everything into consideration; the tactics, the games and that we had another game on Tuesday and again on Saturday – and again on Tuesday.”

You can hear Sannino's post Leicester City press conference below.