Watford midfielder Callum Whelan feels the club's young players will have learnt a valuable lesson from the FA Cup defeat at Tranmere.

A much-changed, and young, Hornets side were beaten 2-1 after extra-time by the League One side at Prenton Park on Thursday night.

Whelan, though, insists the Under-23s players, who included goalscorer Kaylen Hinds, can only grow stronger from the experience.

After making his first senior start for the club, Whelen, 21, told the club website: "I've been working hard in training and waiting patiently for my chance.

"I'm obviously gutted about the result, I'm disappointed because we want to win every game that we play, but it's nice to play 120 minutes and I think it's a valuable lesson as well.

"The pitch, the crowd, it's something I haven't really experienced before, so despite the result I do think it's a very good lesson that I'll learn from going forwards."