Watford’s new signing Danny Rose has said he is hoping to put himself back “on the map” after his move to Vicarage Road was confirmed earlier this week.
The left back had a year in the wilderness at his former club Tottenham, where he was made to train with the Under-23s and was not even given a squad number for last season, as he fell out of favour at the club he had been a part of for the last 14 years.
After running his contract down at Spurs, Rose is a man with a point to prove to himself as much as his former club and has said that he has been given assurances that Watford is the place for him to do that.
“I do feel that I’ve been off the map for a year,” he said in a club interview.
“It’s not ideal, but I’m keen, I’m over the moon than I’m here and I was possibly looking to go abroad, but I’ve been given an opportunity to play in the best league again and I intend to take it with both hands.
“[Gino Pozzo] said he wants to be the one who puts me back on the map and I’m grateful and I fully intend to repay him that for as long as I’m here.”
The England international hopes he can do that by applying his winning mentality to all aspects of his life at Watford.
“I’m at a stage now where I’ve never won a trophy which feels a bit unfortunate,” said Rose.
“I just love winning football games, training sessions, possession drills, anything. I love winning and I hope I can continue to be like that here and we all can achieve something great in the near future.”
In a bid to get to know his new team better, Rose has been in contact with Tom Cleverley, who he has a long-standing friendship with.
While he is yet to meet head coach Xisco Munoz, he said he is already looking forward to working with his new boss.
“I texted Cleverley yesterday, I think it was, and just asked him what it was like and how’s the manager,” explained the left-back.
“He said the manager has got the lads performing and giving everything in every single game for him, so I haven’t met him yet, but I look forward to meeting him and I look forward to playing under him and everything that I’ve experienced throughout my career, I look forward to sharing it with my new colleagues.”
With last season not going for Rose as he would have liked, he admits he had his eye on the exit door throughout.
Watford’s long-standing interest in the player was well-documented and he paid close attention to the Hornets in the Championship in case they were promoted and the opportunity to join them came up.
The 30-year-old is now looking forward to playing at Vicarage Road in front of the Watford supporters.
“There has been interest in the past and it’s just never happened,” he said.
“Obviously, I’m over the moon that I’m here considering the year that I’ve had, where I’ve not played for a while.
“Because I’ve not been playing regularly I’ve always looked out for Watford because I sort of felt that if and when you came back up that it might have been an opportunity for me to join.
“So I was looking out for the squad, I know some of the lads and I feel Watford will do well.
“You’ve had a year where everyone’s had a year of no fans and I used to play here against Watford for Tottenham and, the fans, once this place is rocking, the noise is different gravy. I think this season is going to be exciting.”
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