Steve Leo Beleck has been told his opportunity at Watford will come if he keeps working hard after the striker scored a hat-trick during a midweek friendly.

Beleck has made just one start for the Hornets, in the Capital One Cup against Bradford City back in August, and has made four more appearances from the bench.

The 19-year-old scored three times during a Watford XI’s 4-3 victory over Stevenage on Tuesday, at London Colney, but he has been an unused substitute just once in the last three months as Troy Deeney, Fernando Forestieri, Matej Vydra and Alex Geijo seem to be Gianfranco Zola’s top four forwards.

Watford’s head coach said: “It is not easy for him. His attitude has always been great and what can I say, you hope that you can have space for him as well because he always trains very well and when we play games, he scores.

“I am sure that if he maintains the same attitude then someday we’ll have a spot for him. That is the main message for him.

“It is difficult obviously because we have got four very good strikers all doing very well at the moment, but he has to keep working and I am sure an opportunity will come for him.”