Rob Edwards is hoping to get the chance to speak to Troy Deeney after tonight’s game at Birmingham City but has no special plans for dealing with the former Hornets captain.

The striker is set to play against Watford for the first time since leaving Vicarage Road at the start of last season, having secured his place in Hornets history after becoming the club’s third highest ever goalscorer in the league and featured in a host of memorable and defining moments during his decade in yellow.

The Blues are managed by another former Watford skipper in John Eustace and the Hornets boss has plenty of respect for what both men achieved during the time in WD18.

Edwards said: “I’m well aware of the status that both those guys have at this football club. John had an amazing playing career and I went up against him a few times and total respect for what he did as a football player and what he did for this club and what he’s doing now in his coaching career. He’s a lovely guy and I’ve been lucky enough to meet him a few times.

“Troy’s obviously a club legend and I’m sure he’ll get the recognition he deserves from the supporters for what he did for this club. It might be strange for him going up against us, but he’s a competitor so I’m sure you’ll see the best side of him come out in the game. When that whistle goes any friendships will be put to the side because both teams will want to win.”

Asked if any particular plans had been drawn up to deal with Deeney, Edwards responded: “We’ve spoken about him but in a respectful way the way we would do with every opposition team. They’ll be no special treatment or anything like that, but we’re aware of what his strengths are and let’s hope we deal with that tomorrow.

“Again I have a lot of respect and time for what he’s done for this club and he is someone I want to be able to speak to as well after this game and I can probably learn a little bit from him as well because he’ll know this club as well as anybody.”

Watford will be aiming for their third win of the season at St Andrew’s and Edwards is now seeking an improvement in performance levels to build on the qualities his side have already shown in beating Sheffield United and Burnley and drawing at West Bromwich Albion.

Reflecting on the season so far, he said: “Obviously we’re pleased with the points total. I’m pleased with the character and the words that I’ve been using a lot, the resilience, the togetherness, the unity that we’ve shown. We are well aware and we’re pushing and driving it that we want the performance levels to go up.

“We’re still evolving, the transfer window is still open to there could still be changes as we go personnel-wise, but we want to now really drive home the fact that we can keep improving even though we’ve got some good results in three very, very difficult games.

“I’ve got to stress that, we’ve had three really tough games, the players have got to take a lot of credit for getting the points that we’ve got through their hard work, but they know as well there is more to come and I think that’s exciting.”