Gerard Deulofeu has spoken about his transition from winger to striker at Watford and said he wants to improve both individually and with the team.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Barcelona man said he is looking forward to playing as a forward and hopes he can flourish in the role this season after adapting to the Hornets' style of play.

"We spoke with the manager [Javi Gracia] at the beginning of the season," said Deulofeu.

"He said to me that I was going to play as a striker. Years before, I had been thinking that I wanted to play as a striker because you are nearer to the goal and you have more chances to score.

"Last season was really good for us, we can improve, of course and I can also improve my statistics. But I'm happy and I want to continue in that position.

"I had to adapt myself to Watford's style because there is a lot of long balls, direct and second balls. I had to adapt myself in that team and that type of football. In the last four or five months, I enjoyed playing with Troy [Deeney] and with people who go to the challenge and after, I can take some chances."

The 25-year-old said he believes Watford should be competing in the top half of the Premier League, but that the club needs more than to just have good players in order to do that.

He also spoke about his FA Cup semi-final performance against Wolves and said he knew there was still room for improvement, despite feeling like royalty after the win.

"As a club, we want to do like last season, but much better," he said.

"We have to improve because we can go in the top ten and compete in every game with your best. We have a lot of good players, a lot of quality but right now in football, you need more than that.

"It was a great afternoon for us and personally, for me. During the game, it was tough because we were 2-0 down and Wolves are a great team, but I went onto the pitch and gave my best to take it to extra time. Then in extra-time, we could kill the game.

"For Watford as a club and the town, it was historic going to the final. We couldn't win the final, but we played two games at Wembley and for Watford, that's amazing. After that game, you feel like you are the king but you have to be calm and enjoy the moment but you can always improve some things."

With a return to Goodison Park on the cards this weekend, Deulofeu reflected on his time on Merseyside with the Toffees and said he still had a lot of love for the Everton fans.

Despite moving to Liverpool at an early age, the Spaniard insisted he was comfortable in England and that he felt good playing in the north west.

"It was not too tough [moving to Everton at 18]," he said.

"I had played for Barcelona since I was nine years old so I had been to a lot of countries and done a lot of travelling. I adapted myself in Liverpool, which is not easy, but I felt really comfortable there.

"My first season on loan at Everton, I was really young and I played some games. I'm really happy about this season because that was my first season in the first team. But after, it wasn't regular, I didn't play a lot of games. In football, you need a lot of things and maybe in that period, I was not in my best moment and I had to learn more from my team-mates.

"I had good moments at Everton and it is in my heart so this means that after that loan season, I went back to Everton because I felt really good there.

"I have a good relationship and a good connection with Everton fans. They love me and I love them. Every time I go to Goodison, the people are really happy and I'm proud about this."