The combination of the physical challenge and the technique required to be successful here is what brought Ismael Kone to play in England with Watford.

The Canadian international midfielder only turned pro less than 18 months ago with Montreal in the MLS, but since then he has earned nine caps for Canada, played three times at the World Cup Finals in Qatar and was named 2022 Canada Soccer Young Player of the Year.

On Saturday he made his Watford debut and despite only being 20 himself, he was one of the most experienced players in an otherwise youthful line-up.

“I was hoping to get my debut from the start of the week, but it wasn’t clear until Friday when I knew I was starting the game,” said Kone.

“This was for me to get minutes, to get my match fitness in and to get ready to go back with the team and play. Slaven Bilić didn’t ask much of me, he just asked us to execute the game plan that we all had and to be the best player I can be.

“That’s why I came here, because it’s a physical league that has a lot of good technical players. It’s a challenge for me and I’m really looking forward to it. I think I did well in my first game and hopefully I can do more and next time we win.”

Kone was well aware that despite his relatively tender age, his debut saw him surrounded by many players getting their first taste of senior football.

“When you look at it, that was a team that has been put together over the last few days with players from the Academy, players that don’t play a lot and me, who has just come in,” he said.

“I was in their position not so long ago, and coming into the team it would be greedy not to help them. They have talent and we had a lot of young players playing in that game, but it was good for them to get those minutes and see what it was like.

“I’m just proud of the fact that we came and we fought, and we were able to play in our moments because we knew it was going to be tough, but I’m proud.

“For me, it was good to help them and coach them in a way to be better in the game. I think they did well and we fought well.”

It was also a first opportunity for the Watford fans to see Kone in action – and vice versa.

“I didn’t know they were that loud!” he said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be that loud. It was an experience and I really liked it.

“We talk about the 12th man and it’s real. You can feel the passion and the fact they are behind us.

“It motivates us to perform and do well, and I was very happy to see that, but unfortunately we couldn’t give them what we wanted. We all fought and I hope they are proud of the way we played. I look forward to more.”