Watford coach Javi Gracia insists Abdoulaye Doucoure is fully committed to the club and he will have no hesitation picking the midfielder against Everton on Saturday.

Everton had a £32million bid rejected for the 26-year-old shortly before the Premier League transfer window closed last week.

Doucoure admitted in January he wanted to leave Watford but he was in the starting line-up for the 3-0 defeat at home by Brighton.

The Frenchman was one of a number of Watford players who failed to perform and he put the away side in front courtesy of a clumsy own goal.

Gracia is adamant Doucoure (below) has not been negatively affected by the club’s decision to keep him. When asked by Standard Sport if Doucoure is 100 per cent committed to the club, he said: “Yes. I am sure of that.

In Pictures | Watford's summer transfer business 13 show all In Pictures | Watford's summer transfer business 1/13 Watford's summer business Javi Gracia further strengthened his squad after an impressive first full season in charge. Getty Images 2/13 IN - Ismaila Sarr (Rennes, undisclosed) AFP/Getty Images 3/13 IN - Craig Dawson (West Brom, £5.5m) Getty Images 4/13 IN - Danny Welbeck (Arsenal, free) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/13 IN - Mason Barrett (West Ham, undisclosed) West Ham United FC via Getty Ima 6/13 IN - Bayli Spencer-Adams (Arsenal, free) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/13 IN - Tom Dele-Bashiru (Manchester City, free) Getty Images 8/13 IN - Callum Whelan (Manchester United, free) Manchester United via Getty Imag 9/13 OUT - Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha Berlin, £20m) Bongarts/Getty Images 10/13 OUT - Obbi Oulare (Standard Liege, undisclosed) AFP/Getty Images 11/13 OUT - Miguel Britos (released) AFP/Getty Images 12/13 OUT - Tommie Hoban (released) Getty Images 13/13 OUT - Michael Folivi (AFC Wimbledon, loan) Getty Images 1/13 Watford's summer business Javi Gracia further strengthened his squad after an impressive first full season in charge. Getty Images 2/13 IN - Ismaila Sarr (Rennes, undisclosed) AFP/Getty Images 3/13 IN - Craig Dawson (West Brom, £5.5m) Getty Images 4/13 IN - Danny Welbeck (Arsenal, free) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/13 IN - Mason Barrett (West Ham, undisclosed) West Ham United FC via Getty Ima 6/13 IN - Bayli Spencer-Adams (Arsenal, free) Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/13 IN - Tom Dele-Bashiru (Manchester City, free) Getty Images 8/13 IN - Callum Whelan (Manchester United, free) Manchester United via Getty Imag 9/13 OUT - Dodi Lukebakio (Hertha Berlin, £20m) Bongarts/Getty Images 10/13 OUT - Obbi Oulare (Standard Liege, undisclosed) AFP/Getty Images 11/13 OUT - Miguel Britos (released) AFP/Getty Images 12/13 OUT - Tommie Hoban (released) Getty Images 13/13 OUT - Michael Folivi (AFC Wimbledon, loan) Getty Images

“Doucoure is no different from the other players. He is focused every day on trying to improve.

“Is it a statement by Watford to have said ‘no’ to Everton? Yes. Last season they bought one of our best players, Richarlison, and afterwards we got four points in the two games against them.”

The manner of Watford’s defeat against Brighton was poor, with the home fans booing at the final whistle.

Watford finished in a very creditable 11th place last term but Gracia has warned that things could be much harder this time around.

He added: “Last season is the past. Things are different, we have a different team, many squads from other sides are stronger.

“It will be a tough season but I didn’t expect us to play like we did against Brighton.

“It is a wake-up call for us. This season is different. Brighton showed us how difficult the games will be to play.”