The biggest highlight of an otherwise disappointing evening in Buckinghamshire was the performance of Giorgi Chakvetadze.

The Georgian earned some rave reviews for his displays for his country at the Euro 24 Finals, but the most important thing for Watford fans was that he could carry that form on into the season for his club.

A fine goal and some thrilling bursts at the Wycombe defence showed Chakvetadze is picking up where he left off.

“Giorgi has been a huge positive over the last few days,” said Tom Cleverley.

“To see him back and on top form after he was nursing a groin issue at the end of last season, and after then he went away to the Euros.

“That meant I’d never really seen the best side of Giorgi, but the last week or 10 days I’ve been really pleased because he’s been really positive.

“He can be huge for us. He’s intelligent, he gets into good positions, he has good spatial awareness and quality on the ball.

“It’s our job as staff to add goals and assists to his game now.”

Cleverley pointed out that Chakvetadze is thriving because of what the job asked of him offers.

“He’s really enjoying the responsibility of a lot of our good play coming through him,” he said.

“He’s enjoying the responsibility of adding goals and assists to his game, and he looks like someone who is massively motivated to impress.”

In that 3-4-2-1 shape, the role of the pair of No.10s is key to creating and taking openings.

“Our No.10s are pivotal,” said Cleverley.

“We want to get them in between the lines, and if we can’t get them in between the lines they’ve got a licence to drift centrally or wider.

“As long as they are linked together and don’t leave the No.9 isolated, then that’s fine with me.

“I think Giorgi and Tom Ince are two intelligent players who can play that role well.”