Watford can aim for ‘best of the rest’, says Hughes

Will Hughes believes Watford can be the “best of the rest” providing they keep star players Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu.

The pair scored goals that proved why they recently graced Juventus and Barcelona respectively, before Isaac Success applied late gloss to a classy win that lifted Watford to seventh in the Premier League.

Pereyra, the Argentina winger, beat five challenges before scoring his fifth goal of the season in a strike that will have the leading clubs taking notice.

“It shows the ambition of the players and the club that we’re going in the right direction and that we’re not going to settle for mediocrity,” Hughes said.

“We’re lucky to have them and it brings out the best in other players. We want to push on and stay in the top half of the table and if we can keep this form going, who knows what can happen? Seventh is probably the best of the rest. The top six is going to be the top six and I think everyone knows that.”

Javi Gracia, the Watford manager, claims his big players are not just performing on the creative side. “If you see the kilometres they run, it’s something amazing,” he said. “They are all creative players but all of them show in all the games a high commitment with the team.”

But Hughes also sounded a cautionary note and wants to avoid a repeat of last season, when Watford

Class act: Roberto Pereyra beat five challenges to score Watford’s opening goal on Saturday tailed off after a similarly bright start to finish 14th.

“We’ve got to be realistic,” the midfielder said. “We’ve got to be wary of what happened last season and with the way we’re playing, the top 10 is a good target.”

Huddersfield are bottom after failing to win any of their opening 10 fixtures but goalkeeper Jonas Lossl believes they have enough quality to climb the table.

“Yes, we do,” he said. “You can’t judge us on one game. Look at the last few games.”