Jon Harley has made four consecutive starts for Watford for the first time since January but the midfielder claims he has been in football long enough “not to take it for granted”.

Harley has made the most of his appearances from the bench in recent times but the former Chelsea man is currently holding down the spot on the left of Malky Mackay’s midfield.

“It is something I have been waiting for all season,” Harley said.

“No one likes not being in the team and it has been frustrating at times but you just have to work hard in training and wait for your chance.

“Now I have been in the side for four matches on the bounce. Three of the four matches were good but obviously last week was a massive anti-climax after the previous game.”

Harley only made four of his 120 appearances at Burnley from the bench but prior to his current spell in the Watford starting XI, the midfielder had only made three starts since January.

The 30-year-old admits it has been frustrating at times but maintains that whether it is “15 minutes or three minutes” he tries to use it to impress his manager.

He said: “I have been in situations where I have not been happy and felt I should be playing and it can sometimes be mentally hard to come into a game for two or three minutes.

“You have to try and make a point of fighting for your place and not get worked up and whether you are put on for ten to 15 minutes or three minutes, it has been important that I used that time to stake my claim.

“It doesn’t matter what position you play, you want to make that spot yours but you cannot take anything for granted. If the manager wants to change it then I will make sure I am ready and if I get three or four minutes, I will play to the best of my abilities.”

Harley stated he is enjoying life at Watford and has seen a noticeable rise in his side’s confidence in recent months.

He said the squad didn’t know what to expect following the sales of high-profile players such as Tommy Smith, Tamas Priskin, Jobi McAnuff and Mike Williamson in the summer but claims the young squad have “started to believe in themselves more”.

“I think the Tommy one was well documented and that was one that seemed almost inevitable but as far as the other players, it was a bit of a surprise,” Harley admitted.

“We do not know exactly what is going on with the club financially, except from what we read in the paper, we leave that down to the board.

“The new board has come in though, and the club is being run very well and it may be off the back of those sales that the club is still going as it is.

“We have brought in good quality players to replace them and so far we have managed to hold our own and not miss those players a great deal.”

Harley has Premier League experience with Chelsea and Fulham and summer-signing Scott Severin is the only member of the Hornets’ youthful squad who is older than the midfielder.

But he insists Mackay has not specifically asked him to be ‘the old head’ in the changing room and claims there is no seniority in the squad.

“The way the staff here want the squad, it doesn’t matter whether you are 30 or 17 or 18, it shouldn’t matter because if you have an opinion, it is important that you share it. That is the way it is at the club.

“There is no seniority. Everyone shares their views to try and get the best out of the team.”