A picture posted by Dan Gosling on his personal Instagram page showing the midfielder at the Watford training ground is not an indication he has signed a new contract, or is about to do so.
The image of Gosling, 33, in new training wear and out on the grass with some of the club’s medical staff – which he had captioned ‘looking ahead to new season’ – was an Instagram story post, which naturally disappear 24 hours after they are posted and so is no longer visible.
However, it led to frenzied debate on social media as to whether Gosling – who is currently out of contract – was now returning to play for the Hornets.
The Watford Observer understands no offer of a new contract has been made.
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Gosling has not played since last December when he suffered a bad Achilles’ tendon rupture, but during the second half of the season he began his rehabilitation at London Colney.
We understand the former Bournemouth and Newcastle midfielder has now completed his rehabilitation and discussions are continuing whether he can start training with the first-team group to give him the opportunity to prove his value to new head coach Valerien Ismael.
The 33-year-old is keen to have as full a pre-season as possible to return to playing, whether that is at Watford or another club.
It was reported some months ago that Watford had cancelled Gosling’s contract in mutual agreement with the player, but the club never confirmed or anno8unced that themselves.
Another player who has shared pictures of himself at the training ground is 26-year-old striker Rey Manaj – but he has simply been training at London Colney and is trying to find another club.
The Albanian international joined the Hornets last summer, but struggled to make any sort of impact except on the treatment room, where he spent a lot of time after picking up two hamstring injuries.
He last played for Watford in the 0-0 draw against Hull City at Vicarage Road in December, the first game back after the World Cup break.
That day he made a somewhat bizarre appearance, replacing an earlier substitute Joseph Hungbo in the 71st minute, missing a glorious chance to win the game, and then having to come off again in the 89th minute after a recurrence of the hamstring problem that had ruled him out from late August until December.
In February the club announced that Manaj’s contract had been cancelled by mutual consent. Since then the former Barcelona striker has regularly pictured himself at Watford’s training ground, which he has been using to work on rehabilitation and regaining fitness.
It’s far from uncommon for players to use former clubs’ facilities in that way, or even work at a club near where they live.
Manaj posted an Instagram picture of himself at London Colney this week, wearing the new season’s training kit.
That led to speculation the striker had rejoined the club or had been offered a contract, and even that his contract hadn’t been cancelled or the Hornets had agreed to take him back on if he couldn’t find a new club.
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