Mediocre is not acceptable - Watford's Cleverley

Tom Cleverley was named Watford head coach on a permanent basis in April after being put in interim charge in March following the sacking of Valerien Ismael

Watford head coach Tom Cleverley has said mediocrity will not be accepted ahead of his first full season in charge.

The Hornets head to Millwall in their opening Championship match of the new season on Saturday off the back of a disappointing 15th-placed finish last term.

"The absolute minimum we have to do is improve on what we did on last season," the 34-year old told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"But, for me, that's too much of a mediocre ambition. I'm an ambitious guy and I work as hard as I can to make those ambitions come true."

Watford managed only two wins in their final 13 matches at the end of 2023-24 and have now seen an end to their Premier League parachute payments following their relegation from the top flight in 2022.

However, Cleverley has managed to keep hold of the club's star assets so far this summer and confirmed he is planning to have last season's player of the year Wesley Hoedt for the upcoming campaign amidst speculation the Netherlands international was to be sold.

"He's (Hoedt) someone we're planning around having. He's very important to the way we play. He's our on-field captain and he's someone I do see as part of our plans".

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Cleverley also hinted the club was looking to recruit another central defender before the end of the transfer window as he looks to deploy a 3-5-2 system this season.