Watford youth team coach David Hughes highlighted Bernard Mensah's return from injury as "one of the most pleasing factors" in Watford Under-18s' 3-1 win over MK Dons.

Goals from Connor Smith, Michael Kalu and Sean Murray secured back-to-back victories for the Hornets on Saturday, with the visitors scoring a late consolation.

First-year scholar Mensah, who signed a pro deal in the summer after attracting interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, managed to play all of the second-half after being out for over a month with an ankle problem.

"I suppose you could say one of the most pleasing factors is that Bernard Mensah had 45 minutes," Hughes said.

"With all injured players, you don't want to throw them in for 90 minutes if they have been out for six weeks. If we throw him in and he pulls a hamstring he is out for another eight weeks.

"We will ease him in again next week. We will maybe increase the intensity of the work he does in the training sessions with the team and then gradually over time we will assess when it is right to give him 90 minutes."

Watford have struggled to secure the victories their performances have deserved at times this season and Saturday's win was the Under-18s fifth in 13 matches.

Although emphasising that results are not as important as performances at this level, Hughes admitted he was happy to see his team win again.

"It was a good performance," he said. "I am pleased for the players that they have back-to-back victories.

"I don't think it is the most important factor by any means but there are aspects of it which I am becoming increasingly pleased with; the ability to press, the ability to close down, the ability to press from the front and not give the opposition any time on the ball and make their life difficult.

"In the last four weeks the lads have played some great stuff but it is only in the last two weeks that they have had their rewards. So there is a fine line between playing open, expansive and attractive football and being easy to play against.

"I am pleased with the way that they are playing. Their work rate and attitude to do the right things has been very good."