King Bent on emulating duo

Watford's Marlon King has taken heart from the goalscoring exploits of Darren Bent and Andrew Johnson as he attempts to make his own mark on The Premiership.

The newly-promoted Hornets are preparing for life in the top-flight and last season's top scorer in The Championship believes he can continue his rich vein of form higher up the league ladder.

"I'm looking forward to it - players like Johnson and Bent have done it in the lower leagues and gone straight up with no problem so I don't see why I can't do it," King told Sky Sports News.

King concedes his side will start the season as one of the favourites for relegation but believes manager Adrian Boothroyd can even the odds.

"It's the same scenario as last season just in a bigger league," added King.

"The gaffer's doing his homework now, trying to sign players.

"We've just signed [Chris] Powell - he's been in The Premiership all his life and he's a good addition to the squad."

King also revealed Boothroyd's meticulous approach to potential signings has even seen the up-and-coming boss employ private detectives.

"The gaffer is a top man, he's got new ideas and is part of a new generation of managers - he talks about doing his homework on players and has even gone so far as to hire private investigators to see how they live outside of football," King said.

"That's all going to come into football because the clubs are paying so much money in wages and fees that they don't want anybody to come in and not perform to the best of their ability, either due to off-field or on-pitch reasons. Managers have to be careful with who they're signing."