HAMEUR BOUAZZA would not have featured in Watford's starting XI at Wolves tomorrow (Saturday).

That is the view of Aidy Boothroyd, who sanctioned the sale of the French winger to Fulham this week for a initial fee of £3m.

Watford will receive a further £1m if the Cottagers stay in the Premiership for the next two seasons and once the 22-year-old has made 50 appearances.

"I'm disappointed to lose him because I didn't want him to go," said the manager. "But there comes a time when you weigh up the money that comes in for a player and his value to us.

"As talented a guy as Hameur is he was not necessarily a starter in the team. The two wide players I would look to play would be Jobi and Tommy. Hameur would have pushed them all he way and is also a great foil for the front players as well."

To receive an initial down payment of £3m for a player only deemed on the fringes of the team and one who was nearly sold to Swindon 18 months ago therefore represents "a great deal", according to Booothroyd.

"It's a great deal," he said. "A year ago he was on his way to Swindon so it's fantastic business for the club. A player's value is only what a club is prepared to pay.

"The time is right for some players to go and I felt it was right for Ashley to go but I feel it's not for Hameur. But when a player has people in his ear saying it's right for him to go, there is only so much you can do."

Bouazza's new Paris-based agent has engineered the move out of Vicarage Road and Boothroyd revealed the Algerian international made it very clear over the summer that he wanted to leave.

"He told me very early in pre-season that he want to be back in the Premiership," explained the Watford boss. "I wanted to keep everybody together and don't want to be selling the crown jewels. But sometimes you have to sell a little diamond in order to make the crown look better."

Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez was delighted to finally complete the capture of Bouazza and is now well blessed down the left flank having signed former Hornet Lee Cook over the summer.

"Hameur is an exciting young player with a great deal of potential," said Sanchez. "He will provide further pace and attacking guile to our frontline and I'm delighted that he has signed for the club."

Added Bouazza, who made 59 starts for the Hornets and scored 13 goals: "I'm really pleased to have joined Fulham. It's been a long wait and I'm just happy to be here today and I'm looking forward to getting out on the training pitch this afternoon. I've got a few days training to settle in and hopefully I'll be involved on Sunday against Arsenal.

"It's going to be a big game and we've got to make sure we do our jobs out on the pitch and make a good start to the season."

Although lacking the Frenchman's directness and cannon of a left foot, McAnuff should help compensate for the loss of Bouazza on the left-wing and Boothroyd expects Anthony McNamee, the enigmatic winger, to provide the back up.

"Macca keeps teasing me, keeps showing me little bits of what he can do," he said. "In terms of stature and character Macca has undergone an unbelievable transformation in 18 months.

"He was a little boy 18 months ago but now he's got the personality to match that big talent. If he can do that on a consistent basis he can get into anybody's team.

"If he's inconsistent then he's got it all to do in the last year of contract. It's very much in his hands."