Scott Loach insists he is not the type of person who lies to himself and accepts his form nosedived last season. Now the Watford goalkeeper is looking to build on a decent start to the season and get back into England contention.

Loach had cemented his place as the Hornets’ number one whilst still only 19 years old and enjoyed a positive first couple of seasons as a Championship regular.

Last season his form noticeably dipped though and the former England Under-21 international is now looking to put the past behind him.

“My form definitely dropped off last season,” Loach said.

“I am not one to say 'I am brilliant at this and I was brilliant at that' but I thought up until January or February, I was still doing well and then in March and April I hold my hands up.

“Instead of playing four good games and one bad game I was very in and out really, I had one alright game and one bad game.

“That is me being honest. I want to get better so there is no point in me lying to myself which is why I set myself targets and I think that is behind me now and hopefully everyone can see that.”

Loach’s target going into the season was to have five “solid” performances before the recent international break, which he achieved, and has set himself the same goal for the five matches leading up to England’s game with Montenegro on October 7.

The Nottingham-born goalkeeper has “no idea” why his form dipped last season but said Watford manager Sean Dyche has provided him with some reassurances.

Loach said: “I spoke to the gaffer and he said that happened throughout his career and it is about how you bounce back. It is part of my learning curve and I think I am coming out of it now.”

The Hornets have kept two clean sheets in their last three Championship matches but Loach was quick to stress that was not necessarily down to him.

He said: “I haven't had too much to do which is a credit to the defence. But I feel I have put in solid performances and I have been a little bit more commanding and more of a senior player this season, so hopefully I can kick on now.”

The main criticism directed at Loach seems to be at how he commands his box and in fairness to the Hornets goalkeeper, he acknowledges that himself.

Loach has been Watford’s number one for the last three years and has made 170 starts, so it is easy to forget he has turned 23 in May. There were only six goalkeepers who started in the Championship at the weekend who have made less career appearances than Loach and the former Lincoln City ‘keeper believes he will continue to improve with time.

Loach said: “I think commanding is my main thing; coming for crosses and coming for through balls. I think it is to do with experience, it is not about not coming for them because in a game you will see me come for a cross. It is about being in the right starting position to be able to come properly.

“These things will all come with experience and being switched on as it is not like I am not coming for anything at all.

“I do know I need to work on aspects of my game and I am only 23 so hopefully I will become more consistent.”

“Hopefully with the support of my team-mates and the fans I will become a better goalkeeper,” he added.

Loach was England Under-21’s first choice goalkeeper for a while but he lost his place to Derby County’s Frankie Fielding and missed out on the European Championships this year.

Fielding has impressed for Derby this season and was called up to the full England squad again for the recent internationals, having initially been drafted by Fabio Capello last season alongside Loach.

The Watford goalkeeper heaped praise on his former international team-mate and claims Fielding’s selection provides him with hope of another call-up in the future.

Loach said: “Frank has done brilliantly. He got his chance with the seniors and he hasn't looked back. He is a great keeper and he is the main reason Derby are at the top end of the table.

“He was in front of me and I always knew if Robert Green or David Stockdale pulled out then he would be in the squad ahead of me.

“But you do look round and think Frank is in the Championship, Stockdale is in the Championship and so is Robert Green now. We are all in the same league so I have not ruled it out completely. If I keep my performances high then you never know. I am the sort of guy who would always make himself available.

“But at the minute, Stockdale, Frankie and Joe Hart are three good young goalkeepers and – if you add me into that - I think it is not a bad moment for English goalkeeping.”