If Watford play to his strengths, they could have a real player on their hands in Andre Gray, in the mind of a man who has kept a close eye on him - Burnley Express sports editor Chris Boden.

The 26-year-old scored nine times for the Clarets in the Premier League last season, a meteoric rise since playing in non-league for Luton Town as recently as 2014.

Even with his zero-to-hero status that goal tally in 2016/17 was, if anything, underwhelming with the Wolverhampton-born forward's 25-goal haul the previous year leaving Burnley fans in little doubt of his capabilities.

Boden is convinced the Turf Moor faithful will never see the best of their soon-to-be-departed man, with manager Sean Dyche preferring him to help build-up play and defend from the front than play on the shoulder of the last man, which suits his game down to the ground.

He said: "He got 25 goals in the Championship-winning season but Burnley haven't played to his strengths in the Premier League.

"He spent a lot of time chasing down lost causes and holding the ball up, with his back to goal.

"He ended up playing second fiddle to Sam Vokes and Ashley Barnes at the end of last season, because the manager wanted a but more of an out ball and an aerial presence.

Watford Observer:

Andre Gray opened his Premier League account against Liverpool last August in a shock 2-0 win at Turf Moor.

"He started the season really well though, with the goal against Liverpool. But then there were the tweets that got dug up and that really affected his rhythm. Three of his nine goals came in one game against Sunderland.

"Despite the off-the-field stuff he's a good kid. He's a good finisher with pace and power, and I think he'll do well at Watford."

Watford were sadly lacking pace in attack last year, and you would end up rubbing your eyes on the odd occasion a ball was played in behind opposing defences. You could count the one-on-ones forged during the Walter Mazzarri era on one hand.

Gray's arrival will herald more options for the creative wands that are Roberto Pereyra and Will Hughes - with Marco Silva clearly keen to utilise pace where possible, after starting the raw Jerome Sinclair in his last two friendlies.

Boden said: "Gray will be infuriatingly offside on occasion but if someone can pick out a cutting pass he will run onto those all day long.

"He's an instinctive finisher, you don't expect him to bury every chance he gets and he'll miss some but he will take a great deal of them too."

One person who may not be as joyful as many others about Gray's signing is Troy Deeney.

The captain, and talisman, has had little threat to his position in recent years, partnering Odion Ighalo during 2015/16 and often playing as a lone striker last season, albeit dropped for Stefano Okaka on occasion towards the end of the campaign.

A greater worry could be the arrival of genuine competition with Silva likely to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation as he has done at Estoril, Sporting Lisbon, Olympiakos and Hull City - but Boden sees a way to keep both strikers happy at Vicarage Road this season.

He said: "For my money, Gray is better off playing in a two. That said he's capable on his own, though, and if you want to defend deep and play over the top his pace can be a handful.

"There's a lot of development left in him even though he's 26, he's only been playing league football for three years so he's still got work to do."