Friday 3 April 2015 11:10, UK
Troy Deeney says the desire to repay the faith shown in him by Watford's Italian owners is providing him with added motivation to achieve promotion to the Premier League this season.
The Hornets lie second in the Sky Bet Championship with seven matches remaining in one of the closest promotion races for years, just eight points covering Bournemouth in first place and Wolves in eighth.
Watford face potentially season-defining clashes with top-six rivals Middlesbrough and Derby over Easter and Deeney will be looking to add to his seasonal tally of 19 goals.
However, it has not always been plain sailing for the 26-year-old forward.
The former Aston Villa youth player was sentenced to 10 months in prison in June 2012 after being found guilty of affray, following an altercation with a group of students. Deeney was released after just three months for good behaviour and having shown remorse for his actions.
Reports at the time suggested he could be sold, but Watford owners Giampaolo and Gino Pozzo stood by their man and Deeney, now the club's captain, insists he feels deeply grateful for their support during what was one of the lowest points in his life.
"Since I came back to the club, the Pozzo family have been nothing but good with me. They obviously did not have to keep me when I went away, but they decided to do so," Deeney told Sky Sports.
"I learnt a lot during that time. But I knew what was required anyway. It was just the kick up the backside to go and do it.
"Instead of just plodding along and being happy that I am a footballer, now it's 'go make a career and a living out of it for the whole of my family'.
"I believe everything in life happens for a reason, so the low point of having gone to prison is setting me up to have a lot more highs in the future."
Loyal
Last summer, Deeney was linked with a number of moves to the Premier League, with newly promoted trio Burnley, Leicester City and Queens Park Rangers all reportedly keen on a deal.
Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion were also mooted as potential suitors, though a move away from Vicarage Road did not materialise.
Instead, Deeney - who joined Watford from League One Walsall for £500,000 in 2010 - stayed loyal to the club by signing a new four-year contract and does not regret his decision.
"I feel I have repaid them (Giampaolo and Gino Pozzo) to a certain degree. I have had a number of opportunities to leave the football club, to kick up a fuss, to put in a transfer request. But I have never done that," he added.
"Sometimes if you want to kick up a fuss and leave, then that is when you start to come across as disrespectful. I don’t feel I have been like that with Watford.
"I could have gone to the Premier League and may have been sitting on the bench. I would not have scored 19 goals this season because I may not have been playing regularly. Then you would get the 'he's not good enough' tag.
"Everything has got to work its way out. I am in a much better place now, and if I was to go to the Premier League next year I feel I would be more prepared for it."
Next up for Deeney and Watford is a trip to the iPro Stadium on Friday as they face promotion rivals Derby, a match which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm.
"We know if we come through the upcoming games against Derby and Middlesbrough with six points that we are definitely on the right path of achieving our goal of promotion," Deeney said.
"We are second at the moment, so we are going to go all out for automatic. It is just a case of cracking on and if we do that then happy days."
Watch Derby v Watford live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm on Friday night.
