Odion Ighalo believes Watford already have a squad capable of Premier League survival but accepts they will have to fight off competition from new signings if they want a starting place come August.

The Hornets were minutes from securing the Championship title but as last season’s promoted teams have shown, success in the second tier counts for little in the unforgiving top flight.

Watford’s squad already contains a host of international players but with the Pozzos’ world-renowned scouting network at their disposal, the club will make a host of additions before August’s season-opener.

When asked if the current players were concerned they may not have the chance to play in the Premier League due to the pending summer arrivals, Ighalo replied: “Of course going into the Premier League we will strengthen the team but that is the job of the owner and the coaches.

"My job is to keep working hard and make sure I’m ready for every opportunity.”

Ighalo believes Watford have some players who are better suited to Premier League football and stressed it is important the squad retains their team unity.

He said: “We are working together, we are playing as a team, we play good football and we have good players.

“I think we have Premier League players already; when you look at the strike force, the midfielders and all of the areas.

“We have a good team that can stay in the Premier League and we need to keep working together. It is not going to be easy but we need to keep working together and we can conquer it.”

Ighalo had a slow start to life in England following his arrival from Udinese, initially on loan before the switch was made permanent in October, as he found the net just three times in 18 appearances, although only eight of those were starts.

Then it clicked. The striker’s form was a pivotal factor in the Golden Boys’ remarkable consistency during the second half of the campaign. He scored 17 in 20 games and received a deserved first cap for Nigeria in March.

Ighalo was crucial to fellow Pozzo-owned club Granada’s two promotions during almost five years on loan at the Spanish side.

The 25-year-old only scored 13 goals in 73 appearances in La Liga though – not that it has affected his confidence heading into top tier of English football.

He said: “Of course [I’m confident I will keep scoring in the Premier League]. I know I will need to work even harder because the Premier League is not like the Championship; it will be even more difficult against the big teams.

"It will not be easy but we need to keep working and step up our game and I know I can do even better.”

He continued: “I have played in Italy and Spain and given my best and I know I can do it there (in the Premier League).

“I won’t take the mentality of the Championship into the Premier League because I know the defenders are top class and I have to expect everything will be hard but I know I can do better there.”

Ighalo was speaking at the club’s promotion parade in Cassiobury Park, where he was joined by his wife and three children – he has two sons aged five and three and a daughter who is one.

The celebrations after Watford’s top-flight status was secured included Ighalo and his team-mates chanting the song the Hornets fans have created for the striker.

And although Ighalo’s family have not been with him for most of the season, his sons are well aware of the lyrics.

“They (his children) are very happy and they sing the ‘Ighalo, O’ song,” he said smiling.

“Family is everything. Having my family near [recently] gives me even more joy to work. Having my family near me helps me stay calm as I don’t have to think about them.

“When I lose a game, seeing my family and my kids keep me happy.”

They may have missed out on the title but the goal set when Ighalo arrived in Hertfordshire has been achieved; the ‘Orns are going up.

“We are very happy because this is what we have been working towards since the first day I came here. We have the ticket for the Premier League now and the fans are happy because this town is meant for the Premier League.”