It was a goal that earned a point and a goal that helped Rhys Healey make a point.

The 29-year-old striker has made just five Championship appearances since joining from Toulouse in the summer, and the longest of those was 35 minutes at Sunderland when the home side were already 2-0 up.

Against Southampton, Healey was thrown on four minutes into stoppage time and within seconds had latched onto a header from fellow sub Vakoun Bayo to beat Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu from just outside the box.

The lack of game time the former MK Dons striker – who played with at for Saints manager Russell Martin while with them – has been afforded this season has been puzzling.

Now, though, he has shown he can deliver the goods, something not missed by Valerien Ismael.

“It’s important for Rhys because obviously as a striker you need to score goals. It gives you a good feeling,” he said.

“The confidence will be there, because he has said ‘I can do it’.

“I think he surprised the keeper who was in a high position, but it doesn’t matter how we score, and it’s great for Rhys that he got the reward for himself in a difficult period when you want to play a lot but you aren’t.

“He contributed to us getting a point, and he showed that as a team we never give up. His teammates will I am sure give him a great feeling tonight and he has shown that he is part of our process.”

The Watford boss stressed that Healey is every bit as much part of this Watford squad as everyone else, and he will get his opportunity.

“We don’t want to let someone down unless the player wants to be down on himself,” said Ismael.

“Everyone is part of this process and we work with all the players. Everyone is important in the squad.

“This goal from Rhys will reinforce our message to the team. Yes we have to take decisions for the team, but a moment will come and you will get your chance so make sure you are ready.

“When Rhys came on the game plan was with the more mobile No.9 to run around as the big target guy, and that goal was exactly the game plan we wanted.”

As well as scoring his first goal, Healey also unveiled something else to the Watford fans – a massive throw-in.

Hornets supporters brought up on the likes of Steve Sims and Lee Sinnott’s ability to launch a throw deep into the penalty area will doubtless have been impressed, especially as Healey is far smaller than most with such throwing power.

“The first time we saw it was in training, perhaps a month ago or maybe a little earlier,” the Watford boss revealed.

“It was exactly the same as you saw today. We did it at the end of a training session and he made one big throw. It was unbelievable.

“He didn’t have the space to run up today, but in training he was literally throwing it to the back post.

“We knew what we had then and we thought ‘ok, we have to keep this one secret’.

“That’s why we used it twice today, and it almost brought a goal at the end.”

As well as Healey, the likes of Bayo, Giorgi Chakvetadze and Matheus Martins have had limited game time recently.

Ismael said, though, that those not in the starting XI are still vital to the cause.

“When we talk before games, we are not only talking to the 11 starting players. We speak to all 20 players in the squad,” he said.

“We know a player is not happy when he’s not playing. That’s clear.

“But then, when you come onto the pitch, show your quality and help the team to be successful. That will give you the best chance to compete for your position for the next game.

“Me and my staff have a deep belief in the players, because we know the way we want to play and we know the attitude needed.

“We need to have all the players involved to create togetherness, and that comes from the board through to the team. Everyone working for the club is involved, and we all want the same thing.

“That is the message we have wanted to give from day one.”

The absence with a knee strain of Jake Livermore meant a Francisco Sierralta started for the first time in more than a month.

“I was very pleased with Sierralta’s performance. He gave us something different, but is also very strong and solid in the midfield.

“We know the profile we want for our No.6, so we have similar profiles of a solid No.6 who supports the defenders.

“They are different types of players but the two are very good for us, and when one is not able to play the second one will be there for us.”