Dropping from the Premier League into the Championship may be an issue for some but it wasn’t for two of Watford’s latest recruits.

There is a certain amount of prestige in being a Premier League player, especially at a big club like Aston Villa, but playing regular first team football is what is important to both Jonathan Hogg and Andreas Weimann.

Weimann returned to Vicarage Road on loan until January on Friday and he was joined the following morning by Aston Villa team-mate Hogg, who signed a three-year contract in a deal which we understand will cost Watford an initial £300,000.

“I wasn’t really tempted to stay,” Hogg admitted when speaking to the Watford Observer after making his debut on Sunday.

“I did have two years left on my contract but I am the kind of player who just wants to play and has no problem dropping down a level.

“If I am good enough then I will go back up and if I am not, then I will stay at this level.

“I just wanted to play and at Villa I wouldn’t have played as much so hopefully here I can play regularly.”

Watford were interested in signing Weimann permanently but Aston Villa were keen to keep hold of the young striker.

The 20-year-old told this paper back in June that he would welcome a return to Vicarage Road on loan but the temporary switch was not a mere formality, as Villa manager Alex McLeish was adamant Weimann had to agree a new long-term deal before heading back out again – a similar situation to Jordon Mutch and before him, Henri Lansbury.

Weimann said: “Villa is a great club but it is about playing games so when myself and my agent had the meeting with the gaffer, we wanted to hear that he thinks I have a chance of making it at Villa otherwise I wouldn’t have signed the contract.

“He gave me the encouragement that I could be a player for Villa.”

“There were a couple of other clubs interested in me,” Weimann continued, “but I really enjoyed my time here last year and I know all the players so it was an easy decision to come back.”

Weimann scored four goals in 19 appearances for Watford last season – although only ten of those were starts – and his outstanding work ethic was appreciated by the Vicarage Road faithful.

Hogg spoke to Weimann and assistant manager Ian Woan – who coached the player at Portsmouth last season – before deciding to join Watford.

Weimann said: “Of course when he told me they were interested, he asked me what it was like and I told him that, for me, it is a great place.”

Hogg continued: “Andi said the place was brilliant; the fans, the staff and the players all make you feel welcome and I just thought ‘I will go down there and give it a shot’.”

Whilst two years apart, the pair have been playing alongside each other for Aston Villa Reserves for some time now and they are hoping Watford will now reap the benefits.

“I have been playing with him the last four years and I have got an understanding with him so hopefully we can complement each other well here,” Weimann said.

The fans will already know what Weimann offers after his loan spell last season but what does Hogg have to offer Watford?

Hogg replied: “I am box-to-box, I’m a physical lad who likes to break the play up.

“But I also love getting forward and trying to pinch a goal or two.”

He continued: “I had only trained with the boys for an hour on Saturday before Sunday’s game so the more training I have with them and the more I get to know them, then the more I will contribute. Definitely.”