Hornets defender Craig Cathcart believes everything is pointing in the right direction for Watford to become an established Premier League club.

The Golden Boys will play in the top flight next season following their promotion from the Championship but bookmakers have already installed Slavisa Jokanovic’s side as one of the favourites to suffer relegation.

That isn’t a surprise given the number of teams that make an immediate return to the second tier. After all, it is a huge step up in quality where any mistake is usually punished.

But Cathcart feels Watford are more suited to Premier League football than the rough-and-tumble of the Championship and is confident the Hornets will impress next season.

“We've got the fanbase, we've got the new (Sir Elton John) stand built and everything is pointing in the right direction for the club,” the defender said, when asked if the Hornets can establish themselves in the top flight.

“The owner is very ambitious and you could see that as soon as they came to Watford. I have been here a season and when I spoke to them they wanted promotion.

“We’ve done that. Now he wants the club to stay in the Premier League for a long time.”

He added: “Hopefully we'll give a good account of ourselves [in the Premier League]. We have got a lot of players in the team who are probably more suited to the Premier League. You are given more time on the ball and can play a bit more football.

“In the Championship it is always 100 miles an hour but I think we have definitely got players who can do the business in the Premier League.”

Watford’s attacking prowess has been highlighted on countless occasions this season and they ended their Championship campaign with 91 goals.

Finding the net in the Premier League is likely to be harder for the Golden Boys but Cathcart believes the Hornets already have the quality needed to make the step up.

He said: “We will have no pressure on us because the teams that go up are usually the favourites to go back down.

“I believe we have the quality in the squad to more than hold out own in the Premier League.”

The centre-back continued: “There isn’t any sort of formula to survive. It will be difficult but we have a lot of players that deserve to be there.

“We have a great squad and will make a few additions. Hopefully we will give ourselves the best chance to do well.”

Watford missed out on the chance of winning the Championship title after being held by Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the season.

The Owls scored a 91st minute goal to clinch a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road. It created a strange atmosphere at full time and Cathcart admitted it was a “bittersweet” end to a promotion-winning campaign.

“We knew we were promoted whatever happened but we wanted to get the silverware,” he explained.

“To concede the last minute equaliser was gut wrenching but we’ve had to pick ourselves up.

“Promotion is what we've been aiming for all season so you can't get too down about it.

“Someone mentioned there was an offside [in the build-up to Sheffield Wednesday’s equaliser].

“I haven't seen it but it doesn't matter, there's nothing we can do now. We are just looking forward to next season now.”