An earlier than usual first international break meant only five league games were played before players headed off to represent their countries.

That quintet of matches saw Watford pick up five points and leaves them sitting 18th in the Championship table.

It’s clearly further down than head coach Valerien Ismael would like, and certainly fans would hope to be nearer the top end than the bottom.

But how has the start been perceived by the senior figures within the club, and the head coach himself?

“I think they are pleased, and I am pleased to be here,” he said.

“We feel that we are here to build something, and it’s still a process through a transition situation.

“We saw it during the first block of games, and now in the next block we need to step up to the next step.

“We have shaped the mentality, the discipline that we have put into the squad and into the club. Everyone is pleased and coming to the training ground with a smile on their face, despite the hard work we put in.

“Everyone believes in our way so it’s a great feeling which gives us that confidence to continue that way.

“On the other hand it is important that we see that on the pitch as well because wins give you confirmation.

“We know it internally but it’s a good recommendation for outside when you can win games.”

Although they have only won once there was definitely a case for more than the five points Watford have collected so far.

“We are competitive. It’s not like we haven’t been competitive,” said Ismael.

“I think we have played well on the pitch and the game at Coventry shows the potential in this team.

“But we need to be competitive with the points on the table to be involved.

“This is now my expectation with the players, that we step up and get more points on the board.

“We need to continue with our performances and put them on the next level.”

The only player to return from international duty with an injury worry is Sweden’s Ken Sema, but that could be offset by the news that Jamal Lewis is fit and available for tomorrow’s game with Birmingham at Vicarage Road.

“We have a slight issue with Ken, and we’ll assess the situation,” said the head coach.

“He played two games for Sweden, 90 minutes in both, and we’ll see in training this afternoon how it goes.

“It’s an issue with muscles, due to the games he has played last week. It’s more tiredness than anything.

“It’s nothing major, and I think it was a new feeling for him to be away with the national team and to play two 90 minutes.

“With the travel and tiredness, it’s more that than any big issue.

“Jamal is fit. He trained well for the whole of the last two weeks, with consistency.

“He will be available for the game tomorrow.

“It’s important that he stays healthy now. He needs games because he has found a good rhythm in training, but it’s all about getting the game rhythm now.

“He needs first of all to get that consistency.

“Technically he brings everything we need for that position. He has exactly the profile we need and that’s the reason we picked him.

“Now we take the situation step by step, and the first step tomorrow and then after that we go from there.

“We have three games in a week and we will see how he goes, taking the games one by one with him.”