So far this season, striker Vakoun Bayo has had 20 attempts at goal and scored three times.

While recognising his tireless chasing and pressing, unselfish work off the ball and his efforts to bring his teammates into play, what he has lacked has been that clinical touch in front of goal.

Bayo had a great chance just before half time at Swansea on Tuesday night but sent his header straight at the keeper, and in the game at Cardiff he failed to get a shot on target having rounded the keeper – although his shutting down did eventually lead to the equaliser.

At least the Ivorian is getting into positions that allow him to have attempts at goal, but head coach Valerien Ismael says the forward now needs to do more than just be there.

“Bayo is a player we love,” he said.

“He has a big heart, he runs like a horse and he works for the team, and he has that brain that understands how we want to press.

“We recognise that when we play with Bayo and we press, our press is much better.

“Rajovic is new and he needs to learn everything, but we have time to work with him and there is nothing wrong with that.

“Bayo has a great attitude. He is always smiling, and a really good guy in the squad.

“He creates a lot of chances. We have spoken with him and said if you take all the good chances you had, you’d already have eight goals.

“The positive is that he creates a lot of chances. Now, on the other hand, he needs to be more clinical.

“It’s clear that as a No.9 you get paid to score goals and to make the difference.

“We’ll keep working with him and with Rajovic and Rhys Healey. We are pleased with how they have improved and we see the room to improve further.

“Having the confidence back within the group will help them improve to be more relaxed in the box, and not stressed or hectic.”

Fellow striker Rhys Healey has, in contrast, been given just 42 minutes of first-team football so far, and the bulk of those came when Watford were 2-0 down at Sunderland.

“I think he is on the right track,” said Ismael of the 28-year-old who scored 39 times in 77 outings for Toulouse.

“He has made great improvements in the last four weeks, and he has come on in two games.

“But we have the great situation in the squad of competition in some positions, and you have to deal with that and be patient.

“So the thing is to be patient and when your chance comes take it.”

At the other end of the pitch, Watford have kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since November/December last year, when they managed four either side of the World Cup break.

Daniel Bachmann’s saves have played a key part in that, not least those he made in the closing minutes at Swansea.

“He has responsibility now, and I think he has grown into that responsibility, especially in the difficult situations we have been in,” said Ismael.

“He is a leader, not just a player, and that is what you expect from your captain.

“I think he has found the right balance with the new situation and new role we have for him, both in the squad and in his performances.

“Maybe at the beginning he wanted to push too much, and at some point he needed to be more focussed on himself.

“Now I think he has found the right balance.”