Domingos Quina is hoping to become a first team regular at Watford in the Premier League and says he developed a lot last season, playing under Vladimir Ivic and then on loan at Granada.

The young midfielder admits he still has both a lot to learn and a point to prove, not least to himself, but told the Watford Observer he will not be content with a diminished role come August.

"I want to be starting every game," said Quina. "I want to play as many games as I can and that's my plan.

"When you get your first proper season playing senior football, once you get that feeling you want more, and I want more. I want to do my best in pre-season and do enough to get myself starting - that's what I want.

"I'm not content to just wait or to just be a substitute, I want to start the games, I want to play games, that's what I want. All I care about is playing and playing."

One issue that contributed to the decision to allow Quina to depart on loan last season was the position he played under Ivic.

The 21-year-old prefers to feature in a number 10 role in the centre while the Serbian coach deployed him out wide instead.

Over the summer, conversations have taken place between Quina and both head coach Xisco Munoz and sporting director Cristiano Giaretta about where his best position is and while Quina feels he has been given assurances of game time in his preferred location, he knows he still needs to pull his weight to make the place his.

"I spoke to Xisco before, we spoke on the phone. I spoke to the director too, which was good," he said.

Watford Observer:

"My understanding, from when I spoke to the manager, is I'm back to play, that's the way I see it. Of course, it's down to me as well to produce goals and performances, but the plan is for me to play.

"I think I have a point to prove to myself. For me, other people wanted me to go on loan, but I had a great experience in Spain. So I just need to come back and show them what I can do.

"I got back from holiday and I spoke to the director and we spoke about positions and all of that stuff and I told him where I see myself playing, where I've been since I joined Watford when I was 19 and about the games that I played in the middle, and the games I played out wide.

"I don't mind playing wherever anyone needs me to play but I just want them to understand where I can be more effective. We spoke about that and I think he understands me."

While the loan move to Granada was not Quina's preferred option, he feels he learnt a lot from his time in Spain, not only as a player but as a person as well.

It was the first time he had lived alone, which he found tough, especially in a country in which he does not speak the language.

Nevertheless, his performances on the pitch suggested he adapted quickly before he was soon reduced to substitute's appearances, despite an impressive start in which he scored in two of his first three matches.

"I got to show up and open new doors myself," he said. "It was a good feeling for me.

"It was the first time I went out on loan, the first time living by myself, but I think it was good.

Watford Observer:

"At first it was difficult, because most of the time you're just by yourself and you need to make new friends, otherwise you're at home all the time.

"You have to start talking and learning the language as well to have that connection with your teammates, and it's a little bit hard.

"When you connect with football, it's easier to understand each other but it's harder outside of it.

"When I went there I didn't think I was going to start straight away in the games that I started and I was surprised, I started playing well, I scored two goals.

"After that, I think the manager went back to players that he used to rely on. I don't know, maybe I did something, I don't know what happened, but I just wasn't starting anymore, I was just getting to come on for a bit. But the whole thing was a learning process and the good thing as well is I think I took my chances."

Now Quina is looking forward to a fresh start at Watford under Munoz and said he has heard nothing but positive things about the head coach from his teammates and close friends within the squad.

"Everyone I've spoke to like Nate [Chalobah] and Dre [Gray], they're like my brothers, and they just said to me I would enjoy being with the new manager.

"All the managers are different, they work in different methods. My time with Ivic was a learning process and I've nothing bad to say about him.

"It's definitely a fresh start, though. A new manager, the team is back to where they should be, everyone in the team is happy, I'm happy. I think Watford are happy with me as well. I just want to get back now."