Watford’s Sebastian Prodl says Javi Gracia’s presence at the club could lead to him exiting in the summer.
The Austrian’s sole appearance in the Premier League this season came back in October when came on for the final 14 minutes of the 2-0 win at Wolves and he has since spent much of the campaign in the stands.
At 31, Prodl is keen to play and says he has been left baffled by his lack of minutes on the field, having featured regularly under Gracia last term.
With two years left on his contract at Vicarage Road, his deal is 24 months shorter than the coach, who looks here to stay after a fine first full season in which he has guided the club to the FA Cup final.
The former Werder Bremen man admits his fellow central defenders Craig Cathcart, Adrian Mariappa and Christian Kabasele are all playing well and so he has no complaints about his team-mates.
However, he has hinted that Gracia has a problem with him and that could prompt a move away.
Prodl told Kicker: “I do not know it. I realise that there is currently little reason for the coach to change something in the centre-back position.
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But I do not give up hope. “I give my best in training. I do not even see myself as part of the competition. On the other hand, I have a good position at the club, which I have built up here in the past few years. “I also played under this coach when he came last season.
It can’t be just sport reasons.” When quizzed on his future plans, the Austrian added: “My contract at Watford expires in two years and my coach’s is even longer (until 2023). If Gracia stays beyond the summer, and it looks like he will, I have to think about how it will continue for me because then my chances do not improve.”
