When Adlene Guedioura decided to leave Crystal Palace on loan for a second time this season there was only one place he wanted to go.

“Watford was my choice,” he says. “Other Championship clubs tried to sign me but it was my decision to return to this club.

“I can’t say who the other teams were but they were teams in the top six positions in the Championship.

“But this is where I wanted to play and it is an exciting moment in the season.”

Guedioura’s return was sealed at the end of February. It was the perfect move for all involved. The Algerian international had spent 36 days on loan at Vicarage Road earlier in the campaign and impressed.

He wanted to stay and Watford wanted to keep him. Unfortunately Crystal Palace had hired Alan Pardew as their new manager and he wanted to take a closer look at the 29-year-old. Guedioura returned to the Eagles on New Year’s Day.

“I had to go back and Pardew said to be fair he would give me a chance,” the midfielder says. “Pardew did that. I played a few matches and I think I did well.

“The team did well too and we won some games. The problem was that I wasn’t starting matches.”

Guedioura made four appearances for Palace but they all came from the substitute’s bench. He wanted more.

He wanted to start games rather than being introduced to see out the closing stages or try and rescue a result.

“It is disappointing when you don’t start matches. I have never seen a player happy to stay in the stands or on the bench,” he says.

“And I was disappointed because when I played I did well and the team would win the matches too. Pardew understood that (not starting games).”

Watford made their move. The Hornets had been attempting to replace Guedioura since the start of the year without any luck. But they eventually got their man.

So it was a case of introducing the Golden Boys’ new midfielder; same as the old midfielder.

“I really enjoyed my first time here and the atmosphere at the club is nice,” Guedioura says.

“When I first came I was really welcomed. As I player I was wanted here and it is also not far from where I live.

“So when I returned, it was like I hadn’t left to be honest. The lads welcomed me again and it has been easy to settle back in.”

Following his return, Guedioura wasn’t registered in time to make his second Watford debut during the victory at Leeds United but he played 90 minutes as the Hornets defeated Fulham and then drew at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Those results have lifted the Golden Boys into third place in the Championship table and they are only being kept off top spot by goal difference.

Guedioura is determined to help Watford achieve their goal of automatic promotion and he wants to do it before the final home match of the season.

“My loan finishes before the Sheffield Wednesday match on the final day,” he admits. “It is ok though, all that means is we will have to get promoted before then.

“I knew what I was coming back to. I can’t play in the Play-Offs either so it is important to make sure we finish in the top two. That is my aim and the aim of everyone here.

“I want to go back to Palace with that achievement. I want to have helped Watford get into the Premier League.”