Will Hughes says playing alongside the likes of Roberto Pereyra and Gerard Deulofeu is making the entire Watford squad step up their game.

Both Deulofeu and Pereyra lit up Saturday’s 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town with excellent performances which featured fine individual efforts.

Hughes believes the duo, along with the likes of Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue, is helping the entire Watford squad improve their level.

“We are lucky to have these players here and it brings out the best in other players. When you are surrounded by better players it gives you confidence they know what they are doing,” Hughes said.

“It is exciting playing with them and we are lucky to have them on the pitch.

“I did an interview in the week saying how good Maxi (Roberto Pereyra) is and he does stuff like the goal in training all the time.

“We are not surprised by it. He is a top quality player and I do not think he gets the credit he deserves because he is not at a top six side. We prefer it that way so we can keep hold of him.”

Victory over the Terriers saw Watford make it two wins on the spin after they downed Wolves 2-0 last weekend and leaves them seventh in the Premier League table.

While Hughes is eager to dampen expectations, he believes the standard of player Watford now have in their ranks makes them capable of competing in the upper reaches of the top tier.

“It shows the ambition of the club, the players we have. We are going in the right direction. We want to push for the top half and keep this form going. Who knows what could happen,” the 23-year-old said.

“I think seventh is the best of the rest really and the top six is going to be the top six. It is not out of the question to finish seventh but we need to be realistic.

“We need to be wary of what happened last season. Top 10, the way we are playing, is a good target, but if we finish 12th it would not be a bad season.”