It’s unlikely there is a player in the current Watford squad that divides opinion more than striker Mileta Rajovic.
In one camp you have those who point to his goals and predatory instinct and would have him in the starting XI.
On the other hand, there are fans who think he cannot do what Tom Cleverley needs of a No.9 and also highlight that he has not one assist since he joined the club.
However, against Plymouth on Tuesday night the big Dane gave added power to the elbows of those who back him with two more goals – including a rare one from outside the six-yard box.
That takes him to 14 goals in 48 appearances for the Hornets, although only 20 of them have been as a starter.
That means he has scored a goal on average every 150 minutes he has been on the pitch for the Hornets – in other words, a ratio of better than a goal every two games.
“He’s a real goalscorer, that’s one thing you can guarantee with Mileta,” said Tom Cleverley.
“He really puts his name into the hat to be selected for the league games, and he’s scored some big goals for me in my short career as head coach.
“It’s the way he trains: he gives 100% every day, he’s the first one on the training pitch and the last off it because he’s practising his finishing.
“When a player works that hard, the end result isn’t a fluke.”
There was a first start in the cup win over Plymouth for Kwadwo Baah, who impressed and got the crowd on their feet with his desire to take players on, especially in the final third.
“He really has progressed,” said his head coach.
“I go back to his training performances and he’s been very consistent in training.
“He is absorbing information and that is a sign of his maturity, and we have seen that every week.
“Playing with Tom Ince in the No.10 roles is what I referred to with the Angelo Ogbonna signing – what we have to value as a club is experience and intelligence, and players who can set an example for our younger players.
“If we are going to develop young players then they have to have role models in the team, and Incey is certainly one of those.
“I said I thought Plymouth caused us some tactical issues in the first half, but if you’ve got thinkers on the pitch like Incey then it makes my a job a lot easier.
“I like intelligent players, I’ve said that before, and we try and coach that into our players.
“But people like Ramirez-Espain, Vata, all the young guys, they are playing and performing ahead of their years.”
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