For some players being a professional footballer is nothing more than a job. They have a career, no different to anyone else. Some take their dream occupation for granted. Luke O’Nien is not one of those professional footballers.

"I love football. I love being a footballer. I just can’t get enough," the Hornets midfielder said last week.

And he means it. The 20-year-old has a reputation as being one of the hardest working players at Watford despite having only made one first-team appearance.

He spends several hours a week on the training field, in addition to the scheduled sessions, attempting to enhance his game. He wants to be the best he can be. It’s an admirable attitude.

O’Nien is currently on loan at Conference South side Wealdstone. He joined the club in August and will remain there until the end of the campaign.

However, he played for Watford’s Under-21 side last week and scored twice in their 6-1 victory against Leeds United in the Under-21 Premier League Cup.

He had netted for Wealdstone three days earlier and believes playing non-league football is improving his game.

O’Nien said: "I am loving it down at Wealdstone to be honest. It’s been fantastic for me. Every week you are playing for points and that is the difference.

"In Under-21s football you can make a couple of mistakes and not worry about it too much. In the Conference South you don’t get away with that because if you do then the team loses points.

"Everyone down there has been brilliant towards me. I am learning every day and all those lads are helping me improve."

O’Nien trains twice a week with the Stones - on a Tuesday and Thursday night - but hasn’t let that affect the work he does at Watford’s London Colney training ground.

"I still come in to Watford on those days for training in the morning," he said. "I will continue to learn here (at Watford) from other players, young and old.

"At Wealdstone Gordon (Bartlett) is an excellent manager. He has offered me a lot of advice whilst I have been down there and he has always stuck with me.

"Hopefully I can pay him back with a few goals and help Wealdstone do well."