It is easy to see Watford fans taking to new signing Jose Manuel Jurado in the same way they did with Almen Abdi in 2012.

The Spanish midfielder joined the Hornets on Wednesday from Spartak Moscow and made his first appearance for the Golden Boys in today's friendly victory at Dundee United.

Jurado, who has previously worked with Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores at Atletico Madrid, played the full game at Tannadice Park and oozed quality.

The 29-year-old continuously found pockets of space, played precise passes with both feet around the penalty area and created chances throughout the contest. Sounds like a certain Swiss midfielder, doesn’t it?

The only blot on Jurado’s copy book was an 18th minute miss from close range which would have opened the scoring. That will be forgotten, however.

While many Watford fans were impressed with their first viewing of the former Spanish Under-21 international his performance came as no surprise to Flores.

“He is a good player,” the Hornets boss said. “He has the same style he had when he left Atletico Madrid [when Flores was in charge]. But he has more experience now and is even more aware of how to control the play.

“He is the type of player that is very good for us. In the final part of the pitch we need players who have time to assess, he is the type of player who can give the right pass to Deeney, Ighalo or Vydra.

“But we also have players like Abdi, (Etienne) Capoue and (Fernando) Forestieri who can do that.”

If the Hornets’ Premier League campaign began tomorrow Jurado would be ready to play 90 minutes.

He is match fit and has been in pre-season training for a month and a half due to the Russian season’s early start.

But whose decision was it to bring Jurado to Vicarage Road? Flores was well aware of of his capabilities but, apparently, so was Watford owner Gino Pozzo.

“Since the beginning, maybe two months ago, when I started to talk with Mr Pozzo we knew it was important that everyone agreed to the signings,” Flores explained.

“All the players that we have signed have come off a list. They knew Jurado already; sometimes the players come from the sporting director and sometimes they come from the other staff.

“When they are on the list though it is because everyone believes that player will be good for the Watford team.”

On the basis of today's performance Jurado is more than capable of holding his own in the top flight.

And the thought of Abdi and Jurado in the same starting XI is likely to only enhance Watford supporters’ excitement for the forthcoming campaign.