Watford FC: Andy Hinchcliffe sends Tom Cleverley warning despite positive start | OneFootball

The former Manchester City player has been speaking on the Essential EFL podcast from Sky Sports.

Watford have made a very good start to the new season under the guidance of Tom Cleverley – winning three of their first four games and losing only to Sheffield United – but though he has been impressed, former Sky Sports pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has warned the young manager about the tough task he faces in charge of the Vicarage Road outfit.

The Hornets made their former player the interim boss towards the end of last season and after he pushed them away from any relegation danger, he was rewarded with the job permanently in April.

So far, that looks to have been a fantastic decision, with Watford scoring goals for fun while also progressing through the opening rounds of the Carabao Cup.

The signing of Festy Ebosele on loan from Udinese just before the transfer window closed will only further improve the team as they look to return from the international break with a win against Coventry City at Vicarage Road.

Nevertheless, with Watford's history of sacking managers quickly, Cleverley will have to be careful if his team does suffer a poor run of form at any point in the coming weeks.

Hinchcliffe has seen the good work that has been put in at Watford already

The summer was one of confusion in Hertfordshire, and not many supporters expected the start that they have had. However, players have bought into the new permanent manager's style of play, and they look to be a dark-horse for a place in the play-offs.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Essential EFL: Championship Catch-Up podcast, Hinchcliffe discussed Watford's start, while also warning Cleverley over the owner's quick decision-making.

He said: "I think being a coach at Watford is incredibly tricky. We know how the club is run; coaches seem to come and go. Tom, I just like what he said in some of the interviews that he did pre-season about mid-table being average is not good enough for this club.

"They've lost some key players as well, players that maybe Tom expected to keep. I think Wesley Hoedt was one that he thought would be there, would be his captain, would be his bedrock, he's gone. So again, like most clubs, most coaches manage the change.

"But I just like his attitude, he's passing that responsibility. Yes, I'll coach you, and I'll organise you, then you've got to go out and play. And if you just think, well, we're just making up the numbers this season, that's not good enough."

Hinchcliffe continued: "He's going to push those players, and it's down to those players to respond. It looks like the early signs are good. They are responding, but again, is that going to continue? Are the owners going to continue to believe that Tom is the right man for the job? Because they chop and change so quickly there.

"So yes, a positive start. I'm pleased for Tom. I spoke to him a couple of times when we did Watford games when he was injured there as a player, and he speaks really well.

"I think he's really embraced the challenge there, but it is a major challenge because it's not run as a lot of other clubs are. So, let's just hope that he's still around going into the new year because there's nothing guaranteed there."

If Watford avoid injuries they can challenge for promotion

Many had expected the likes of Burnley and Leeds United to run away at the top of the table this season, and while they have both shown signs of doing that, there have been slight inconsistencies from them both.

Instead, Sunderland have been the surprise early pace-setters, proving to Cleverley that with hard work, he can form his team into promotion challengers.

However, they must avoid injuries to key players such as Edo Kayembe and Moussa Sissoko.

The former has started the season excellently, scoring three times in the first four Championship games from attacking midfield. Just behind him, Sissoko has given the team a new level of experience and calm, proving that age is just a number.

If Watford can continue to win midfield battles and keep their squad fit, then they have a strong chance of going a long way this season, and perhaps win a surprise promotion.