The Hornets head coach feels playing 4-4-2 is “a very good option” for his side but will have no hesitation in changing formation if he feels it is necessary for a different opposition.

There was an expectation coming into today’s opening game of the Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion that Javi Gracia would continue with two up front after Troy Deeney and Andre Gray started last week’s final pre-season friendly against Sampdoria.

And that indeed proved to be the case as both strikers contributed to positive effect to Watford’s 2-0 opening-day success courtesy of a Roberto Pereyra brace.

“If all the players, like Troy and Andre keep that level, I think it’s a very good option for games like today,” said Gracia of playing 4-4-2. “In other games, maybe we need to change the shape.

“For example playing in the last pre-season game against Sampdoria, we needed to change the shape because they played a different way and then we need to adjust some things to play with [Etienne] Capoue and with Roberto as a second midfielder.

“We can change depending on the opponents and we’ll try to keep our attitude in all the games.”