The Premier League, as we are constantly told, is the most watched league in the world. It has a global audience of around three billion and can be watched in almost every country. So it is little surprise Watford captain Troy Deeney is finding it harder to blend into the crowd.

He is, after all, the face of the club. A man who represents the Hornets’ past, prior to the Pozzo takeover, but also their present and future in the top flight.

And Deeney is an excellent interview. He is down to earth and approachable. For those reasons he’s been heavily in demand by the media since the Golden Boys’ secured promotion to the top flight.

But away from the pitch and away from the television and radio studios little has changed for the 27-year-old.

“It’s a little bit weird,” Deeney replies when asked by the Watford Observer how he has found the greater exposure.

“What I would say is the more ‘successful’ you become the more isolated you make yourself. I don’t want any distractions. I’ve worked really hard to get to this position and I want to enjoy it. I don’t want to lose it over something stupid.

“For my son nothing has changed. He doesn’t care if I am Troy Deeney Premier League striker. To him I am still Daddy who sits down and helps him with his homework.”

The striker adds: “You do get recognised more because of the power of Match of the Day and Sky.

“With the Championship - especially last season because I don’t know how it is doing on Channel 5 - you had to stay up until 12am to watch it.

“Most adults are usually out at that time on a Saturday or they’ve gone to bed because it is late. So I am more recognisable and people notice me when I am out a little bit more.

“I think my son has noticed that sometimes people are coming up to me in the street and asking for pictures. When that happens he keeps on walking with his mum while I stop and have a chat.

“There is a bit more limelight that comes with the Premier League but once we shut the front door nothing has changed.”

Deeney comes across as totally at ease with life at Watford. And for good reason. The Hornets skipper has performed well in the top flight and has struck two goals in his last three matches.

This weekend the Golden Boys welcome Premier League giants Manchester United to Vicarage Road. That global audience will once again be watching. But is Deeney one of that audience?

Some players are totally absorbed by the sport. They play football. They watch football. They read about football. Others are more detached from the game. Watford’s skipper falls into this second category.

“I am more of a Masterchef viewer or something a little bit left field to be honest,” Deeney says with a smile.

“I watched the Villa Manchester City game last week because we are playing Villa soon and I wanted to see what had changed under their new manager.

“And I think those changes were evident for everyone to see. But other than that I don’t watch much football. To be honest I don’t really like watching football.

“For me it is like watching someone else doing the work that you do. So I’ll stick with Masterchef or I’ll watch what the kids want to watch too. The sport I like watching is the golf and I like my boxing”

Watford’s promotion has given Deeney more time to enjoy his life. He isn’t playing Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, as he was in the Championship.

Watford have had a full week to prepare for virtually every game. Something the striker says has benefitted the Hornets.

“We get to train more and there is more time to rest. And if the weather was any good we would get a lot more time to play golf.

“There is not the frenetic schedule of the Championship. So there are no excuses for us not working hard on a Saturday and long may that continue.”