Not only has Tom Cleverley had to juggle bringing in his most of his new players towards the end of the transfer window, he’s also seen the club’s Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season leave when the new campaign has already started.

That would test even the most experienced of head coaches, so for Cleverley to be balancing building a squad, playing matches and creating a winning environment in the midst of so much coming and going is like asking a rookie Formula One mechanic to change tyres and engine parts while the car is going round the track.

Of course, Cleverley knew deep down that Yaser Asprilla would most likely leave, but he was confident Wes Hoedt wouldn’t – and he had already seen Canadian international Ismael Kone head for Marseille.

“I was expecting Yaser to leave the club so we planned without him and I think Edo Kayembe has filled his boots fantastically well,” said the Watford boss.

“Wes was a little bit more in the balance but he's left, and then we had Kone go as well.

“But credit to the recruitment team for what we have done so far and what we are looking to complete in the next week.

“Credit to the squad as well though. It would be easy to get bogged down with people saying we need to add quality when I’m more than happy with the quality we have in the building.

“I think it shows the environment we’ve got that not only have players stepped in for Yaser and Wes, but the players who have come in off the bench have made real impacts.

“That is where the games are being won and lost at the minute, and I have faith with what we have in the building.

Wes Hoedt's farewell message on his Instagram accountWes Hoedt's farewell message on his Instagram account (Image: Instagram)

“We have replaced some already, we’re looking to replace more next week.

“I believe in the process and the game plan more than just the individuals.”

And if Cleverley wanted an indicator of the mood in the camp right now, it was the way in which the team overcame going behind – for the first time this season – by sticking to their game plan in order to claim a deserved win over Derby.

“Yeah, that was really pleasing,” he smiled.

“If you keep knocking on the door you’ll eventually take it off the hinges. That was the case against Derby.

“I think I’d be disrespecting Derby a little bit if I said it was absolute backs-to-the-wall football from us, because I know we can be better.

“But the pressure will tell in the end when you’re playing against teams like that.”