He is one of the most sought-after midfielders in the world but Abdoulaye Doucoure is most pleased to have smashed a misconception.

Inspired by boss Javi Gracia the £50million Watford star has scored ten times across the past two seasons and provided nine assists.

Chelsea, Everton and PSG are among the clubs keen on him. Doucoure, happy at Vicarage Road, believes the interest comes from the realization that he has far more to offer than just pace and power.

“At the beginning a lot of people said: ‘Doucoure is not technical, he is only physical, he just runs,’” he told Mirror Sport.

“When they see me play here now, score goals, make assists, they say: ‘Ah no, he is technical now. He can play.’

“So for me it is like a battle. Like a war against people saying that. It’s very important for me. I want to be seen as a normal midfielder who can score, can pass and can recover the ball. This is my battle.”

(Image: Getty Images)

Doucoure, 26, counts Yaya Toure, Bernardo Silva and Abou Diaby among his influences. In 2010 he set up a goal for Paul Pogba as France lost 2-1 in the semi-finals of the European Under-17 Championship. He has played with the Manchester United superstar since the Under-16’s. They remain friends to this day.

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Speaking ahead of today’s trip to Manchester City, Doucoure added: “Sometimes they say black people don’t have technique or elements like that. It’s not true.

“A lot of black players have technique. Yaya is a very technical player. Me? Yes. I try to use my skill. I try to dribble to score goals. I’m not only physical. I’m not just running. I can do a lot of things.

“Paul has shown in the last few months that he has very good technique.

“He has scored a lot of goals. He makes space, he makes a lot of assists as well.”

(Image: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)

Doucoure believes Pogba has finally earned the appreciation he was not afforded during a tough spell for the fallen giants before the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“He’s the same age as me,” said the Watford star. “He deserves respect. But lot of people talk about him away from the pitch. The way he dresses, his haircut.

“But on the pitch he is one of the best midfielders this year. Everyone can see it now.”

Despite all that hype around him, Doucoure wants to continue his own education under Gracia. A call-up to the France squad - after failing to make the World Cup last year - remains his primary target.

(Image: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)

“Under Mr Gracia I have the consistency to play,” he said. “He is very demanding with me because he knows my quality. He knows I can do better.

“He puts me in the most demanding position in training to learn. He is the man to help me to get into the France team, to help me to fulfill my ambition.

“In the French team there are a lot of good players. Big players. Paul, Kante, Matuidi. It’s hard to get into this team. But of course with hard working one day I can do this.

(Image: Phil Harris / Daily Mirror)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

“If I get a call up to the national team or when I get recognition from other clubs it shows I am going things well and maybe people wont talk any more.”

Signed in 2016, Doucoure was farmed out on loan to Spanish club Granada. On his return he struggled to get into the Hornets’ side under Walter Mazzarri.

A loan move Lorient was set up but the flight was cancelled because the paperwork arrived at Fifa 33 seconds after the deadline. Doucouré would have to wait four months for his chance to come.

But it did after Mazzarri was replaced by Marco Silva at the end of the season.

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Doucoure said: “From all three managers I have learned different things. “From Mazzarri I learned patience because I didn’t play in the beginning. “From Marco Silva I had my best season so far. Under Mr Gracia I have the consistency to play.

“This is my third season in the Premier League and I need to prove to everyone that I can keep my level high.”

Watford go to the Etihad on the back of four wins from their last five in all competitions. They also have a home tie in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 16 against Crystal Palace. The 1984 finalists are dreaming big again.

“Lots of people thought Watford would go down this season but the manager has made us strong.

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“I’ve always believed in us. In the beginning I felt we had a good team. This year we have changed simple things and now we are high in the table.

“We are more demanding in training. We train with more consistency. The manager is more demanding with all the players.

“We are more serious in training, more serious in the gym. Everyone works hard. The competition for places is more demanding as well. It’s very close between players.”

To put own Doucoure’s rise into perspective, he has recovered from two cruciate ligament injuries, the last in 2013.

“There was never a time when I thought I wouldn’t come back,” he said.

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“I think it is a testament to my character because to come back from two cruciate ligaments in a short period is very hard,” he said. “Now I play in the best league in the world, the most demanding league.”

A father of two, Doucoure believes family life has enabled him to enjoy his game. He went on: “Becoming a father changes you. In a good period or a bad period you have your kids. You can enjoy time with them. For me it gives me stability because I am very focused on football now.”