Almen Abdi believes he has only been 80 to 85 per cent fit so far this season and admits he has struggled to recapture the form which made him one of the best players in the Championship.

The midfield maestro also stated most of the Watford squad believed Troy Deeney “was gone” this summer and constantly thought their captain would be sold in a matter of days.

Abdi’s first season at Watford, the 2012/13 campaign, was majestic. The fact he deservedly beat Deeney and Matej Vydra to the Watford Observer Player of the Year Trophy spoke volumes considering the performances of the strikers.

But it was followed by the most frustrating season of his career.

The Switzerland international scored three goals in the first five Championship games but then missed five months with a rare foot condition. He returned briefly in January during four substitute outings before suffering a devastating setback less than a quarter-of-an-hour after coming on at Nottingham Forest.

Abdi helped reignite Watford’s slim play-off hopes temporarily, as he scored two goals in his next two starts in April following a couple of substitute appearances, but then missed the final three games with a knee injury. In total, Abdi made just nine starts and 16 outings in all competitions last season.

The 27-year-old has started four of the Hornets’ five Championship matches so far this season and scored twice during the 4-2 victory over Huddersfield Town before the international break.

Abdi is confident the foot condition is behind him but believes he is not back to his best.

“I still don’t feel 100 per cent yet, maybe 80 to 85 per cent,” Abdi accepted immediately after the Huddersfield match.

“Not in my foot, the foot is alright, but I have had a very special year and I didn’t have any rhythm for a whole year. We then had the summer break and I had some problems in pre-season and when you are out for so long and come back, you struggle a bit with your body.

“But now I have two weeks to work on my fitness and I think I am going to be better in the next few weeks.”

Deeney scored the first goal that afternoon and Abdi admitted he was surprised to still be playing alongside the Birmingham-born striker.

Watford rejected several bids from Premier League clubs over the summer, including one from Leicester City which we understand was worth an initial £10m plus £2m in add-ons.

Abdi said: “It [keeping Deeney] was very important for everyone. I don’t need to tell you about his quality as a footballer and as a person.

“He is our captain and I think everybody thought he was gone and it was just a matter of days until he was sold.

“Now we are happy he has signed his new [four-year] contract and with Troy Deeney up front we are a different team.”

Deeney’s future was the topic of media reports throughout the summer but Abdi does not believe the speculation affected the team.

“It doesn’t seem like it,” Abdi said, “but usually yes [such speculation would affect a team].

“One time I had three or four months in my career where I wasn’t sure if I was staying or going and it is very tough to concentrate. What he has done is be very professional and he always does things for the team. It doesn’t seem like the speculation has affected the team.”

The win over Huddersfield was to be head coach Beppe Sannino’s last in charge of Watford.

His future had been in serious doubt for several weeks and we understand the Italian had resigned three times prior to the match on August 30.

Abdi refused to discuss Sannino’s future but said he did have a good relationship with the coach, whose resignation was accepted by Watford the day after the player spoke to the press.

The midfielder explained: “He was very important [for me last year] because he always spoke with me and told me not to give up, saying ‘it will come and just keep working. We are waiting for you’.

“It was very important for me to hear that the coach wanted me to be fit as quick as possible.”

Sannino left Watford in second place in the Championship, after five matches, and Abdi said: “It is very early but with this team it is our dream to get to the Premier League and I think with our quality we can make it.

“We just need to play better and work harder.”