Ikechi Anya has paid tribute to the job done by Slavisa Jokanovic in delivering promotion to the Premier League, labelling the achievement the culmination of his beliefs.

The Serbian, who replaced Billy McKinlay in October, looks set to be succeeded by former Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores following a breakdown in contract talks and Anya lauded the job he did in returning the Hornets to the top flight after eight years away.

Watford were second in the Championship when the former Chelsea midfielder was appointed on October 7. The decision to sack McKinlay after just eight days at the helm was ultimately vindicated, despite an initial slump in form which saw the Golden Boys topple from the summit to seventh after four consecutive defeats.

Jokanovic held much stock by the value of a strong team ethic, something underpinned by his decision to banish Lloyd Dyer, Lewis McGugan, Diego Fabbrini and Mathias Ranegie from first-team training.

Speaking at the time about the decision, the 46-year-old said: “If you are working and making training worse then I don’t need you. And if I don’t use you in the team and then I need you in the game, then you need to be fit enough and have enough desire to show me I am wrong.

“If you don’t show me on the time [you play] or another time that I am wrong, then I don’t need to f*** over my people who want to do our job and other people.”

And Scottish international Anya states it was Jokanovic’s unwavering belief in his principles which paved the way for the Golden Boys to reach the Premier League.

Speaking at the open-top bus parade through Cassiobury Park to celebrate promotion, he said: “From day one he came in and said there was no room for any egos. He said to achieve promotion you need teamwork first and foremost and he has constantly reinforced that.

“I think what we achieved was a culmination of his principles. It is all about the team, it doesn’t matter who scores and gets the glory, as long as the team prospers that is the most important thing.”

It has been quite a journey for Anya, who after becoming Wycombe Wanderers’ youngest ever player in 2004, aged just 16, fell into non-league football.

But the diminutive wideman is now at his highest ebb as the recently-crowned Scotland International Player of the Year for 2014 and can call himself a Premier League footballer for the first time too.

It is a rise the Glasgow-born player rightly terms as “crazy” and he insists there is no fear of new arrivals at Vicarage Road as the Hornets prepare for the top flight.

“The owner and the directors will be thinking about that (new additions). We have just enjoyed promotion because this doesn’t happen many times in your career,” Anya said.

“Come the first day of pre-season, however, everyone is going to be raring to go. The owner is going to try and strengthen so it is down to everyone here to prove to them we are worth our starting places. Competition for places can improve the squad and that is very much welcome.”

He continued: “You’ve got to welcome new players. Not only will new signings improve the squad but they will improve you as players.

“If you are not doing your job then you will not start or you could even be left out of the squad. So you have got to work even harder to improve.”

Anya is no stranger to hard work. Whilst the domestic season came to an end with Saturday’s FA Cup final, he still has the small matter of a 2016 European Championships qualifier against the Republic of Ireland next week.

“It is a blessing having to stay fit over the summer, because football in the Premier League and on the European stage is more than I could have ever imagined,” admitted Anya.

“I am probably the only footballer in the world who likes the running side of things in training.

“The lads always shout at me in training because I ask for more running.

“But the Premier League is the next level and we are going to have to train harder than ever before. It will be more intense and I am looking forward to it.”