Alex Kacaniklic's story is similar to many young footballers; your talent is noticed by one of the 'big' clubs in your teens and then you make a dream move, only to then wait several years before moving to a smaller club in search of first team opportunities.

The Watford loanee joined Liverpool as a 16 year old but did not make a single appearance for the European giants before moving to Fulham in 2010 as part of the Paul Konchesky deal.

Kacaniklic was on the bench for Fulham in November but he had to wait until his first outing for Watford in last week's win over Millwall to make his professional debut.

The 20-year-old admits the lack of opportunities for young players at a club like Liverpool is frustrating but he was not critical of the club and believes his spell at the Reds helped him develop as a player and a person.

He said: "You always want that chance to play and always want to play regularly but it is not easy. It is a little bit frustrating but you just have to wait and hope you take your chance when it comes.

"Obviously coming to Watford, I am having a chance to play first team football here and I am really grateful. I am happy to be getting first team football at a great club."

Kacaniklic was playing for his home-town team of Helsingborg when the offer to join Liverpool arrived, shortly after his 16th birthday.

He described the decision as a simple one, especially as his whole family moved to England with him, but that didn't mean the move itself was easy.

Kacaniklic explained: "I left because I saw an opportunity to make a career for myself and develop as a player and a person.

"I had some really good years at Liverpool and they helped me a lot and England is the country where I want to play, so it was an easy decision to leave Sweden."

But he added: "It is difficult moving so young. It is a different lifestyle in England compared to Sweden and I left all the comforts I had at home, in terms of my friends and school.

"But having my family here made it so much easier and I am so grateful to them for that."

Kacaniklic impressed for the Under-18s and Reserves, scoring in the FA Youth Cup final defeat to Arsenal in 2009, but how hard is it to stay motivated when you know you are so far from breaking into the first team?

He replied: "At times you think "maybe they will give me a chance" but there are so many great players at a club like Liverpool and all you can do is work hard and do the best for yourself and think when I get my chance I am going to take it, but it is not easy."

Kacaniklic can play on either wing or behind the strikers and describes himself as a player who likes running at defenders and getting to the byline. He has also chipped in with a few goals for Liverpool Under-18s and the reserve sides.

Last week's win over Barnsley was just his second professional appearance and Kacaniklic believes he has much more to offer Watford.

Speaking before the Nottingham Forest match, Kacaniklic said: "I have to try to get into it and get to know all the boys and the way they play. I also need to get used to the tempo so there is definitely more to come from me."