Abdoulaye Doucoure said being a part of Watford's first team this season will give him a chance to complete a "Premier League dream" with the club.

The 23-year-old midfielder will get his first taste of the English top flight this season, having been loaned to Granada after he first signed for the Hornets in February.

Styling himself as a "box-to-box" player, he has caught the eye with two impressive cameos in Watford's early pre-season friendlies, and said he was looking forward to getting the season underway.

He said: "I’m feeling very good, I like the team and I like being around here. I’m very excited to start in the Premier League this season.

“I’m a box-to-box midfielder, I like to help out with both the attacking and defensive side of the game."

There had been talk of Doucoure moving to the Hornets as early as last summer from his then-club Rennes, but he opted to stay in France for family reasons.

The lure of the Premier League would soon become too much to resist, however, and on the final day of the winter transfer window he put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year deal.

He added: “My dream has always been to play in the Premier League, and it’s great to get started with the new coach as well.

“The Premier League is so intense, it’s the most exciting league in the world and the players have to be so fit to get through the season.

“There was talk of me coming over last summer, but my wife was pregnant and perhaps it was better I stayed in France. But now I am very happy to be here.”