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Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley deserves plenty of credit for the role he has played in Abdoulaye Doucoure's impressive run of form.

Doucoure has been immense for the Hornets in the middle of the park and has received plaudits from all angles.

But Silva does not want Cleverley's role going unnoticed - he has spoken before of his admiration for the Englishman and how he goes about his business, both in training and on the pitch.

Whilst he knows Doucoure is improving every week, he says it is only possible because of Cleverley's understanding of the game.

"Of course, Doucoure is improving and doing fantastically," Silva said.

"He’s a player who I pay a lot of attention to; he needs to improve more and more with his tactical behaviour and positioning in important moments of the game.

"With three at the back, he feels a little bit more free to play in the midfield line. And with Tom Cleverley alongside him everything looks different because Tom is a fantastic player, and has learned how to deal with everything that happens in the game.

"What Doucoure is doing now is possible because Tom covers him if he needs to, for the moments he arrives in the box.

"You need to play with one player who is really smart, and Tom understands everything that happens in the game.

"Doucoure is scoring and doing fantastically, he’s feeling the pleasure of scoring but this is all possible because everyone helps him, and playing alongside someone like Tom."

The Frenchman was, perhaps, not expected to feature on the scoresheet quite as often as he has.

Doucoure's scored five goals in 15 games this season after only netting once last year and was desperately unlucky not to add to that tally on Saturday; he saw a 20-yard effort bounce off the inside of the post and clear against Spurs.

Silva says he has encouraged his midfielders to try their luck from distance if they get the opportunity.

"I’ve told our midfielders to shoot if you have a chance, even outside the box," he added.

"The goal he scored against Manchester United was very good and inside the box, and it was a great first-time finish.

"He has a lot of confidence at the moment but I’m sure he wants to improve. T

"There’s some important things in the game that people might not pay attention to but he needs to improve on, and it’s my job to do that."