Jay DeMerit and Heidar Helguson out of Watford's match against Coventry

Watford skipper Jay DeMerit could be out for another two weeks after cutting his eye when removing a contact lens.

Central defender DeMerit, a revelation for the United States in their Confederations Cup run in the summer, already looks certain to miss the USA’s World Cup qualifying double header against Honduras and Costa Rica next month.

And the Hornets again will be without their influential ’linebacker’ for Coventry’s visit to Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.

DeMerit is understood to have scratched the cornea - the glass-like surface which covers the eyeball - taking out a lens before Watford’s win at Plymouth three weeks ago.

But the superficial wound became infected and he will not be available to face the Sky Blues along with on-loan striker Heidar Helguson, who had a scan on his calf injury last night and will be out for a fortnight.