Watford boss Malky Mackay believes Scott Loach's work ethic will mean the England Under-21 international will become a Premier League goalkeeper in the future.

The former Tottenham Hotspur target, who has made 128 appearances for Watford, has made some costly errors in recent months but produced several goal-saving stops to secure the Hornets' 1-0 win over Barnsley on Saturday.

When asked about Loach's display following the victory, Mackay said: “I have known him since he was a 17-year-old boy coming in from Lincoln and I have seen his development.

“Because of his height and because of the stature of him and because he has now played so many games in the Championship, people judge him on that, maybe rightly so.

“But he is only 22 years old and this is his second full season in the Championship and I think Watford have got a really good goalkeeper here and that showed again today.

“He produces top class stuff at times but kids are also going to make mistakes.”

Mackay continued: “Scott works so hard for the team under the tutelage of Alec Chamberlain and he is another one that is working hard to get to where he is, with a lack of ego. And he will get to where he wants to go.”