Scott Loach believes his England call-up proves he made the right decision by staying at Watford when Tottenham Hotspur came calling in February.

Spurs made a loan offer for Loach on the last day of the January transfer window, with the view of making the deal permanent for £2m in the summer.

The offer was rejected by Watford but, in the age of player power, Hornets boss Malky Mackay recognises Loach could have tried to force through a move if he wished.

The 22-year-old didn't though, and he stayed to help Watford remain in the Championship.

And this week Loach was rewarded when he was called up to the full England squad unexpectedly, after former Watford loanee Ben Foster picked up a back injury.

When asked whether the call-up proved he made the right move by staying, Loach replied: "You don't get this opportunity by sitting on anyone's bench.

"The gaffer [Malky Mackay] has been first class. He has played me and I have performed but the gaffer stuck by me through the hard times and the lows.

"I owe everything to the gaffer and my goalkeeping coach, Alec Chamberlain. Alec has been like a father to me and has been absolutely first class. Long may it continue because Alec keeps progressing me week in, week out and they both won’t let me get too big for my boots.

"The more that I play, the more it will help me in the long run."

Mackay, who this week confirmed there had been no fresh bids for the keeper, praised Loach's attitude by not forcing through a move and believes the player will eventually reach the top level.

He said: "Scott had the chance to go in the last couple of days in January if he had really pushed it. We desperately didn't want him to go, but if he had really pushed it then it would have happened.

"Himself, his agent and his family are good people to have around him and they thought the best place for him was here, to keep playing league football and getting experience, as opposed to sitting on a bench.

"That is what is going to make you grow into a goalkeeper that can handle games and the call-up has shown that everything he has done has been for a reason, because he wants to become a player at the top level and I thoroughly believe he will play at the top level."

Loach and Blackburn Rovers' Frankie Fielding were both called up to the full squad on Tuesday night after Foster picked up a back injury.

The Nottingham-born keeper recognises he is slightly fortunate to receive the call-up now, after West Ham United's Rob Green and Bristol City's David James were dropped, Foster was injured and Blackburn's Paul Robinson retired. But he was still keen to prove his worth when he spoke to the Watford Observer on Tuesday night.

"It is a dream come true, it really is," Loach said.

"Obviously a lot has gone my way but I will take whatever I can to get in that England squad.

"If I get the chance, then it means I have done something right to even be thought of.

"I will go there tomorrow with my shoulders back and my head held high and prove that I deserve to be there."

Loach did not end up playing in the 2-1 win over Hungary on Wednesday night as Manchester City's Joe Hart played the full 90 minutes but he conceded that may be the case before joining up with the squad.

However, Mackay believes it is huge achievement for a club the size of Watford to have two of their young players called up to full national squads in as many months.

Mackay said: "Scott is the second Academy product in the last two months to be called up to the full national squads, after Michael Bryan was brought into the full Northern Ireland squad, so I am delighted for both our youth and coaching set-up and Scott himself.

"Our coach, Alec Chamberlain, has now had Ben Foster and Scott Loach called up into the England squad now."

Mackay continued: "I have known Scott since he was 17 years old and he puts in an awful lot of work and thoroughly deserves everything he gets because of the work-rate he puts in.

"When I got that call from Ray Clemence I was absolutely delighted to phone Scott and tell him he has been called up. It is one of the best things that can happen as a manager."

Although Loach was an unused substitute at Wembley, the international saw three ex-Hornets players in action.

Former loanee Adam Johnson played the full 90 minutes, Ashley Young was a half-time replacement, while Tamas Priskin came on as a late substitute for the Hunagrians.

Furthermore, four former Watford loanees also played for England Under-21s in their 2-0 victory over Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

Tom Cleverley and Danny Rose played the full 90 minutes and Henri Lansbury and Jack Cork came on as substitutes, with Rose and Liverpool's Martin Kelly scoring second-half goals.

This week has also seen Watford keeper Jonathan Bond called up into the Wales Under-21 squad just a fortnight after signing professional terms at Vicarage Road.

Bond, 17, played 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Malta on Tuesday night in Ta'Qali.

The Hemel Hempstead-born stopper will now be hoping he can secure the number one jersey in the final two UEFA Championship games against Hungary and Italy.

Watford moved to secure Bond, who is in the second year of his scholarship at Watford, on a professional deal at the end of July.

He made three appearances for the Reserves last year and made the first-team bench in October and November.