During Watford’s pre-season campaign Quique Sanchez Flores has favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation. But that system does lead to questions regarding team selection and, specifically, where do you play the influential Almen Abdi? We decided to ask the Swiss maestro. To be honest, he’s not sure either.

That is understandable. In the Hornets’ four friendly matches the 28-year-old has had spells at left midfield, right midfield, centre midfield and playing off the striker.

Quite where Abdi would perform best is a matter of opinion. He is just focused on ensuring he’s in Watford’s starting XI at Goodison Park on August 8.

“The most important thing for me is to play,” he said. “It is a little bit difficult in this system (4-2-3-1) to find the right position for me. I won’t complain though, the important thing is that I can play.”

That is arguably harder than ever if you’re a Watford midfielder. The Hornets have signed Etienne Capoue and Valon Behrami this summer and are also poised to announce they have completed a deal for Spartak Moscow attacking midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado.

While some players would be worried about the new additions affecting their chances of first-team football, Abdi has welcomed the competition.

“We need a strong squad and we need good players in the Premier League,” he said. “We will play against some of the best players in the world in the best league in the world. For that you need a top squad and that is what we are building.

“We have signed good players and they are great lads, which is the most important thing. They will certainly improve us a lot on the pitch.

“And we are going need everyone. Nobody is certain to play because we have great quality but I will work hard to make sure I am in the team.”

Watford will get their Premier League campaign at Everton underway in just 20 days but it has been a three-year journey since the Pozzos’ takeover the Hornets to get to this point.

Abdi has been there since the start; he was one of the first players to move from Udinese to Vicarage Road and his effortless style has endeared him to the Golden Boys supporters.

When Abdi is asked about performing in the Premier League he instinctively smiles. “When you see the teams we are going to play it is a dream come true,” he admits “I am really looking forward to it.

“I want to stay fit this season so I can show my best. That is what I am working to do and hopefully in three weeks’ time I will be on the pitch.”

If Watford fail to perform at Vicarage Road they will not have the excuse of being unprepared. The Hornets have spent the past week in Germany at a training camp and the club even cancelled a scheduled friendly on Friday in order to put in more hours on the training field.

They certainly paid off against SC Paderborn 07 this afternoon as a slick Golden Boys performance resulted in a 2-0 victory over the German club, who begin their competitive season next weekend.

“When you think Paderborn start their season next week then it shows we played a good game,” Abdi explains.

“They are ready for the season but we still have three weeks of training to go. We played good football today but there are still a lot of things to improve.”

The Watford Observer's trip to Germany has been kindly sponsored by DAS Heating, Bathrooms & Lighting Supplies Ltd. Visit www.dasheating.co.uk/shop/ for more information.