Watford have won their first pre-season game of the summer this afternoon; beating a Val Venosta Representative XI 5-0 in Italy.

Fernando Forestieri, Daniel Pudil, Troy Deeney, Carl Stewart and Britt Assombalonga all got on the scoresheet in the game at the Malles Sportcenter, South Tyrol, in northern Italy.

As expected, nearly all of the players took part in the match, with Lewis McGugan and Joel Ekstrand two of the players not to feature.

Gabriele Angella was the only one to start the match who wasn’t at the club last summer.

Diego Fabbrini has now linked up with the squad and along with Marco Davide Faraoni came on at half time.

Second year scholars George Byers and Dan Wilks also played in the second period.

The Hornets, who played in a 3-5-2 formation, almost went ahead in the 11th minute when Forestieri played in Cristian Battocchio and he slotted home, however the assistant referee raised his flag and the goal was ruled out.

Watford did take the lead soon after. Almen Abdi played the ball to Forestieri and he fired the ball past the goalkeeper.

Angella, who impressed in his first run-out for the club, then headed wide at the back post before Pudil doubled the lead as he finished off a good Hornets move.

Jonathan Hogg, Marco Cassetti and Abdi all came close and on the stroke of half time the Hornets added a third as Deeney curled an effort home.

Jonathan Bond was the only player not to be substituted at the break as the Hornets made wholesale changes.

After a couple of early second half chances for the hosts, Watford added a fourth goal ten minutes after the restart as first-year scholar Carl Stewart finished well after neat play from Diego Fabbrini.

Uche Ikpeazu was brought on in place of Stewart in the second period and Gianfranco Zola’s side grabbed a fifth goal in the 76th minute when Britt Assombalonga found the net.

Ikpeazu almost connected with a Sean Murray pass late on but the Hornets ended the contest comfortable winners.

First half XI: Bond; Doyley, Angella, Cassetti; Anya, Battocchio, Abdi, Hogg, Pudil; Forestieri, Deeney.

Second half XI: Bond (Wilks 65); O'Nein, Brown, Byers; Faraoni, Murray, Smith, Fabbrini, Stewart (Ikpeazu 65); Assombalonga, Mensah.