Watford legend John Barnes excited to see Marvin Sordell against Tottenham Hotspur (From Watford Observer)

Watford legend John Barnes excited to see Marvin Sordell against Tottenham Hotspur

1:10pm Friday 27th January 2012 in Sport By Frank Smith

John Barnes will be back at Vicarage Road tonight

Watford legend John Barnes is most looking forward to seeing highly-rated striker Marvin Sordell when he returns to Vicarage Road for his first Hornets game in several years.

Barnes will be a pundit for ESPN at tonight’s (Friday’s) game and while he was at Vicarage Road for the England Under-21 match earlier in the season, it is the first time he will see Watford play live all season – having missed the Hornets previous televised matches.

Speaking exclusively to the Watford Observer this week, Barnes looked back on his time with the Golden Boys fondly and said he was excited to see how Sean Dyche’s side would fare against Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur.

Barnes said: “I have not been back to Watford for quite a while so I am looking forward to it. Obviously Tottenham are playing really well so it is going to be a difficult game but Watford are at home so hopefully they can put on a good performance.”

The former Watford, Liverpool and England fans’ favourite has seen the Hornets’ striker Sordell on a few occasions this season due to him covering the Under-21 games.

He said: “I am most looking forward to seeing Marvin Sordell. I have been to a lot of the England Under-21 games and he has been playing really well for his country.

“Marvin has been one of the only people at that level who is a regular for their club team and there has been a lot of speculation about him and he impresses me a lot.

“He has good movement, good pace and he holds the ball up well so he is the one I most want to see.”

Sordell has scored 27 goals in 80 appearances for Watford and is now considered England Under-21s’ first choice striker, even when Stuart Pearce plays with a lone front man.

When asked whether he believes Sordell should make the step up to the Premier League now – should an offer arrive – or stay at Watford to develop, Barnes replied: “Only he can make the decision about whether to move. However, he has been playing for the Under-21s for quite a while and is a regular for Watford.

“It will probably depend on how Watford are doing, what he feels is right and whether Watford want to cash in on him, as he will command a good transfer fee.”

Barnes still keeps in touch with some of his former Watford team-mates and said it was nice to see the likes of Steve Terry and Neil Price at Vicarage Road when he attended the Under-21s’ game earlier this season.

He said: “Playing for Watford was such a special time and it is good that those people still come together and I still class them as close friends.”

The 48-year-old was also quick to praise current Watford chairman and his former manager Graham Taylor.

He said: “I still speak to Graham. I have not spoken to him in a few months but I speak to him intermittently.

“Graham loves the club and he is Mr Watford as far as I am concerned and he gave me everything I had in terms of the start of my career.”

Barnes, who is still living in Liverpool, was full of praise for Tottenham Hotspur and their manager Harry Redknapp but claims the magic of the FA Cup means Watford still have a chance against the Premier League high flyers.

Barnes said: “Harry Redknapp has done a great job and in truth, he has done better with them than I expected.

“They are playing good football but more importantly they are doing so consistently.

“They have a great balance between those hard working players and flair players.

“I would say Tottenham and Manchester City are the two most consistent sides in the Premier League so it will be difficult for Watford but in the FA Cup anything can happen.”

John Barnes is a football analyst for ESPN, which has live and exclusive coverage of three FA Cup fourth round games this weekend, including Watford versus Tottenham at 7pm tonight. Visit ESPN.co.uk/tv for details.