Troy Deeney was pundit alongside Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football

Watford striker has started season well and been linked with England call-up

He believes his mentality and ability as target man could set him apart

Deeney also spoke about how high he rates youngster Nathanial Chalobah

Troy Deeney was his usual straight-talking self on Monday Night Football alongside regular Sky pundit Jamie Carragher.

The Watford striker, who has started the season in great form, was in the studio and answered a number of questions sent in by fans.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gareth Southgate recently hinted that Deeney is not on his England radar and that there are young players ahead of him in the pecking order.

Troy Deeney was the special guest and answered questions on Monday Night Football

'What's the criteria to get an England call-up?': Deeney was typically frank during the show

Deeney believes he could offer a strong alternative option up front for Gareth Southgate

And the 30-year-old responded to those words. He said: 'I respected Southgate's comments. I'm actually glad that my name is being brought up in the conversation.

'I think it leads back to the earlier remarks about Rashford. I'm not saying I should be in the England team ahead of Rashford, I'm just saying what is there to do now? What's the criteria to get an England call-up? Do you have to be playing and scoring or do you just have to be a young player at a big club and the manager likes it?

He continued: 'But I respect his decision, he got to the semi-final of a World Cup so he's not doing a bad job is he. I've just got to keep putting in good performances so this debate keeps rumbling on. I think I offer a different dimension. I think what separates me from a lot of people is mentality and leadership.'

Deeney has played under a number of different managers with the Hornets and considers Marco Silva the best of them.

Click here to resize this module

Deeney rates Marco Silva as the best manager he has worked under at Watford

Silva started well at Vicarage Road before an attempt from Everton to poach the Portuguese turned his head and the wheels started to come off.

'I think Marco Silva has probably been the best. I respected what he was doing and really enjoyed training every day. I liked how Silva set his stall out and dissected who he wanted in and out of his team in a three week period,' Deeney said.

'I sensed a difference in him after he was linked with Everton. With anyone, when you get linked with moves or any kind of contract thoughts or things like that, your mind just comes off a fraction or two and it reflects to the players. I would expect him to take Everton to the next level.'

It was also fascinating to hear the striker talk about who he rates among his team-mates.

Show Player

Roberto Pereyra (centre) is the most talented player Deeney has shared the pitch with

Deeney reserved incredibly high praise for both Roberto Pereyra and Nathaniel Chalobah, who joined from Chelsea.

'Pereyra is the best I've played with, people don't realise how good this kid is, he's played in Champions League finals and people act like we've just found him off the street. He's frightening, he can do anything.

ADVERTISEMENT

'He's got that extra quality and for a team like us you need little sprinkles of magic.

'Chalobah is an unbelievable footballer, he makes football look easy he glides, it's effortless. He hasn't come to Watford just to settle, he wants to kick on again and show why he was at Chelsea in the first place.

Nathaniel Chalobah could be worth £50million in 18 months time, says Deeney

'He's still a kid in terms of growing into his body but his mentality is like a man. He came through a hard school at Chelsea, Drogba, Terry, Lampard didn't let him cut corners.

'I think in 18 months, playing week in week out you're talking about a £50million player. Easy,' Deeney reflected.

The Watford target man also had a say on how his old mate Anthony Joshua will do this weekend in his huge fight against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.

'I met AJ in a barbershop, he was training for the Olympics at the time. I was one of those things when two people just connect. When I was locked up he was one of the first to call me when I came out. I think he'll knock out Povetkin in six or seven,' Deeney predicted.

Deeney is close friends with Anthony Joshua and tipped him to beat Alexander Povetkin