Watford's head coach Slavisa Jokanovic says he hopes to see Uche Ikpeazu in pre-season - despite the young striker's new loan club Doncaster Rovers claiming he has joined with a view to a permanent deal.

Donny claim Ikpeazu's loan until the end of this season is with a view to a permanent move in the summer. However, a club source at the Hornets told the Watford Observer there is no such agreement and it is simply a loan.

The Golden Boys refused to comment on the matter, as is common with transfer dealings, but their website appears to back that up.

And when Jokanovic was asked if he hoped to see Ikpeazu back in pre-season, and if he believed the former Reading man had the talent to play at Championship level, he told the Watford Observer: "Yes, definitely. I must try to find solutions [to problems] during the season. All coaches ask for time and 100 per cent I know my team better now than I did two months ago. If I could have the opportunity in the future to have a pre-season [at Watford] then I could try some different players and try them in different positions and have a clearer situation. I have made some changes during the season but it is more safe for the coaches to do it in pre-season.

"In pre-season you can see young players and [assess if they can] help us in the future. The future could be in months or it could be in years. This is my answer to what you asked me [about Ikpeazu]."

Ikpeazu is at least Watford's fifth choice striker, with Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo, Matej Vydra and Fernando Forestieri all clearly ahead of the youngster, not to mention fellow youngsters Bernard Mensah and Alex Jakubiak.

The 19-year-old was loaned out to Crewe during the second half of last season and again in November. He impressed during both spells, scoring six goals in 23 appearances in total for the League One strugglers, and on Monday it was announced he would be remaining there for the rest of this season.

But less than 24 hours later the powerful striker was recalled by the Golden Boys due to a Championship team and Doncaster vying for his signature. We understand the decision was taken because the Hornets were keen for Ikpeazu to join a club challenging for promotion, with 11th-placed Doncaster only two points below the League One play-off places with two games in hand.

"For all players it is more important to be playing games," Jokanovic told the Watford Observer. "For young players it is more beneficial to play competitively.

"With Uche, we have four players who play in a similar position. Uche has some different characteristics to the other players but his options [at the moment] are to be in the stand or out on the field [at another club]. It is better for younger players to be on the pitch [playing competitively] two or three times a week."

Ikpeazu loved his time in Crewe but is relishing the chance to fight for promotion.

Using his Twitter page, he said: "Delighted to have joined Doncaster on loan. Massive club with great ambition. Hopefully I can add to what we have got in order to achieve big things this season. #promotionchase #goals."

Crewe manager Steve Davis was understandably unhappy about the U-turn but accepted Watford were allowed to do it.

"It was a surprise, but they are well within their rights to do that," Davis told the Stoke Sentinel on Tuesday.

"It’s disappointing because we had planned and agreed for Uche to be here and were preparing for life with him.

"We’d just got him sorted with a flat, he’d just bought a TV and he was ready to settle. This just shows how things change in football.

"He (Uche) didn’t know anything about it in fairness, I don’t know whether it’s come from the club or his agent but we move on."