Will Hoskins has been handed a lifeline at Vicarage Road and could form a key part of Aidy Boothroyd’s plans next season.

Hoskins has been out of favour at Vicarage Road for nearly a year, spending periods on loan at Millwall and Nottingham Forest and almost making a permanent move to the City Ground before injuring his back.

The 21-year-old was understood to have become something of a disruptive influence at the club after struggling to acclimatise to Boothroyd’s playing and management style.

But the Hornets boss and the player appear to have patched up their differences, and the manager expects the former England Under-20 international to flourish under the much-anticipated new style of football.

“Will will be staying here,” confirmed the manager. “He’s training with us in Austria, training very hard and he’s doing well.

“I’m looking for the likes of Will, Theo Robinson and Lionel Ainsworth to step up this year and for the older players to take more responsibility as this will be a tough season.”

The decision to bring Hoskins in from the wilderness is the third time in as many summers that Boothroyd has undergone a change of heart on a player.

In 2006 it was Richard Lee, while last summer the manager performed a U-turn on his decison to sell Darius Henderson.

“If you set yourself in a rigid mindset then you’ve got a problem,” explained Boothroyd. “I’m always willing to be open-minded. I have opinions about things but I don’t bear grudges.

“We expect a certain level of discipline here and it’s important the players do what is asked of them.

“I always want to be flexible and it’s a clean slate for Will,” he added. “He’s got undoubted potential and he’ll fit into the way we play.”

Hoskins was like a fish out of water when he signed from Rotherham United in January 2007. He had scored 16 goals for the Yorkshire club before Christmas but, like many of his team-mates, Hoskins struggled in the Premiership and Watford’s direct style of play did not suit his game.

He was tried out wide and in the hole in the pre-season friendly with Willem II last summer but disappeared thereafter.

“He’s a very clever player and he’ll open up defences,” said Boothroyd.

“He’s bright, got a bit to prove and I like them to be hungry. If he can stay clear of injury and have a good pre-season he will come right into the reckoning.

“I see him as player who can play in the little pockets and in from wide or just off a front man.

“When a game is stretched, he can get on the ball and pick out passes. He creates problems for defenders because he doesn’t stand still.”