Javi Gracia has been impressed by the progress of Juan Camillo Hernandez and believes the teenager has a clear eye for goal.

Hernandez, who is known as Cucho, marked his international debut by scoring twice for Columbia, the first of which arriving with his first touch some 32 seconds after coming on as a sub.

The 19-year-old has spent the last two seasons on loan with Huesca and has carried the form which saw him help them gain promotion to La Liga last term into this.

He found the net against Barcelona at the Camp Nou earlier in the campaign and Gracia feels Cucho has the qualities required to be a regular goalscorer at the top level.

“He played very well last season in the Spanish second division to get promotion with Huesca and he is keeping the same level,” Gracia said.

“We see he is now playing with the national team and the first goal he scored for Colombia was similar to the one he scored against Barcelona in La Liga.

“He reacted to the second ball and is always ready to score. He has that virtue and is a good player who is growing in Spain. Playing with the national team is special for him as well.”

While Cucho’s progress can be viewed as nothing other than a positive for Watford, his development has inevitably brought admiring glances from elsewhere.

He has been linked with Barcelona in the past year and it is a genuine possibility that he departs Watford before even turning out for the Vicarage Road club.

Gracia, though, was keen to focus on the here and now when asked about Cucho’s long-term future and remains pleased with the performances the youngster is putting in.

Watford’s head coach said: “In this moment I am focused on the players I have and Cucho is at another team. I know he is playing well but I am concerned only about the players we have here.”