Obbi Oulare admits he wasn’t planning to leave Club Brugge for Watford this summer. He expected to continue his development in Belgium for another season. But the final days of the summer transfer window changed all that.

The powerful young striker, who only established himself in Brugge’s first team last season, was first approached over a move to Vicarage Road in June. Rightly he was cautious.

At 19 years of age the Belgian top flight is certainly an easier place to learn your craft than the uncompromising Premier League, where every mistake and error is analysed in painstaking detail.

The weeks passed and Watford maintained their interest. Oulare featured regularly for the Blauw-Zwart during the opening weeks of the season and his chances of a regular starting berth appeared to increase when it was announced leading marksman Tom De Sutter was leaving for Turkish side Bursaspor.

But, perhaps unsurprisingly, Brugge brought in reinforcements. They hastily signed strikers Leandro Pereira and Jelle Vossen on the same day, August 31.

It was then Oulare, who is currently away on international duty with Belgium’s Under-21 side, says he made the decision to make his move to Watford.

“After Tom moved I was with left with [Abdoulay] Diaby. I told myself that they would bring in another attacker, that is normal because there is competition everywhere,” Oulare told Voetbalnieuws.be.

“I had thought about leaving but I hesitated. I had started (and scored) in the match against Standard Liege, so why not stay? Perhaps this would turn out to be my season.

“But when I saw that [Pereira and Vossen’s signings], I called my father immediately to hasten things.

“It was me who was delaying [the move] a little, but it was better to leave. But I would not have gone if it had not been for these two arrivals”.

On transfer deadline day, September 1, Oulare became a Watford player. The fee wasn’t revealed but it didn’t exceed the club record £6 million the Hornets paid for Etienne Capoue.

Oulare’s first month at Vicarage Road has been different to the rest of Watford’s summer signings.

While the likes of Victor Ibarbo and Adlene Guedioura, the two players who also joined the Golden Boys on deadline day, have featured for the Hornets first team Oulare hasn’t even been included in a match-day squad.

Instead he is being patient. Oulare has spent plenty of time in Watford’s gym. He may be naturally powerful but he wants to be stronger and ready for the Premier League.

His only appearance in a Golden Boys shirt has come in an Under-21 fixture. His hulking frame certainly stood out amongst players of his own age.

Hornets head coach Quique Sanchez Flores has stressed several times over the past month the young striker is gradually improving and becoming fitter.

And when he is fully up to speed Oulare believes he will be given a chance in the Golden Boys side.

“During the first month the coach (Flores) has watched me in training,” he said. “It is often like that. He waits a while before he lets players into the first team.

“He tells me when I am ready I will play. So I will train well and continue to adapt, but I am feeling settled.

“I am only 19 years old and I have come to the Premier League. There is a big difference compared with Bruges, a world of difference. But I am learning.”