Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores says three months hard work is paying off for defender Jose Holebas.

The Greece international joined the Hornets from Roma in the summer and featured in three of the club’s opening four Premier League games.

But following Watford’s defeat at Manchester City on August 29 the 31-year-old lost his place in the first team.

It looked as if his career at Vicarage Road was over but Holebas was handed a start against Chelsea on Boxing Day and performed well.

Flores spoke positively about the full-back after that game and Holebas was given another chance in the side against Manchester City this evening. Flores was again left impressed.

“Holebas played really well,” Flores said. “He has worked hard for three months with the idea of having one chance in the team.

“The problem was (Nathan) Ake was playing really well. So everyone understood why Holebas wasn’t playing.

“But I have two really good players ready to play. That is my challenge for all the positions, sometimes that isn’t possible.”

Watford’s head coach continued: “We know what Holebas can do for this team. He can play as a winger and at the start of his career he was a striker.

“I am happy for him because I want my players to show me they can play at Watford.

"The only problem is the level here is very high. So if players want to play they have to train well and convince me they deserve to play.

“But even if they are training well there may not be the space in the starting XI. If they are ready though I can put them in the team at any moment.”

While Holebas impressed down the left flank, attacking midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado was having his best game in a Watford shirt on the right side of the Vicarage Road pitch. 

The Spaniard has come in for criticism in recent weeks but Flores has always maintained the 29-year-old brings unique qualities to the Hornets side.

“I think Jurado has made a very big difference for us since the beginning of the season,” Flores insisted.

“Jurado is a very important player for us. If we want to keep the ball Jurado is important, if we want to pass the ball Jurado is important. And if we want to make a very quick transition from defence to attack he’s important.”