Goals are secondary at this stage of pre-season was the verdict from Watford striker Andre Gray, despite the personal credit that came his way after the 27-year-old found the net in the Hornets’ 1-1 draw with Cologne on Tuesday.

The forward enjoyed a mixed first season at Vicarage Road following his £18.5 million move from Burnley, but he told the club website that he feels as if he has to more to offer heading into year two – both in terms of goals and his all-round play.

“As strikers we want to score in every game, but at the end of the day it’s a results business and that’s the main thing,” Gray said after the draw in Austria.

“I think as strikers if you have to sacrifice your goals for results, then that’s what we have to do.

“I do want to score goals. Hopefully they’re the goals that help us climb up the table and be in that top half and pushing for Europe.

“Personally I want to do a lot better than I did last year, and I think that’s my main objective and my main goal.”

Watford are currently in the midst of a pre-season tour in Austria, and are being put through gruelling double sessions by head coach Javi Gracia as he seeks to get the Hornets up the speed for the season opener next month.

Their draw with the 2. Bundesliga side was about much more than the result. Just ask Gray who was keen to highlight the importance of improving fitness in what was the Golden Boys’ first pre-season outing.

“It’s not about the goals. It doesn’t mean much at this stage, but it’s always good to get on the scoresheet and get back into the swing of things,” Gray said.

“That’s what it’s about, fitness and getting back into it. We’ve had a lot of time off so it’s just about getting back your match fitness and getting used to playing with the ball again.

“You can do a lot in training, but it comes down to the matches at the end of the day, so it’s always nice to get minutes under your belt.”

Watford’s next test will arrive on Saturday when they take on newly promoted Bundesliga outfit Fortuna Dusseldorf. Kick-off is 2.30pm UK time.