Clever’s crocked

WATFORD midfielder Tom Cleverley will miss the early weeks of the new Premier League season after undergoing Achilles surgery.

Cleverley, 28, is beginning a rehabilitation programme at the Hornets’ training ground and is targeting an autumn return to action, having gone under the knife to fix the long-standing issue.

“This is something I’ve put up with during my career, so it’s good to get it sorted,” Cleverley said.

“I had been used to playing with pain in my ankle. Now that’s going to be a thing of the past, I’ll be fit and raring to win my place back once I’ve finished my rehab.”

The former Manchester United trainee joined Watford last summer after an initial loan spell, having failed to establish himself at Everton.