Even at this early stage of his Watford career, it's clear when Marco Silva says someone is "very, very good" that you sit up and take notice.

The 39-year-old is not one for a soundbite and often hangs back from delivering clearcut quotes, preferring his audience to take their own interpretation of his messages away with them.

But one player who has impressed for the Hornets in an otherwise forgettable pre-season on the pitch under his watch is the returning Roberto Pereyra.

The Argentine is akin to a new signing for Watford this summer - only a year after he actually was one - and after sometimes flattering to deceive in the five months he was fit of last season, has looked sharp mentally and physically to date.

Pereyra looks nailed on to start for Watford against Liverpool tomorrow, on the back of some careful recuperation from Silva and his team over the summer.

Silva said: "He’s one player we need to be careful with. We’ve managed him every day in pre-season and in some moments been very careful.

"Against Real Sociedad he played 60 minutes and I believe he did well. I saw more confidence in his moves and his attitude.

"He is a player with a very good attitude on the pitch. I believe he’s a player who, if he stays fit, can really help our team. He’s a player who in the future will understand my ideas for him and we need players like him to support our football.

"He’s a very, very good player and it’s easy to understand that. When you look at his past and where he played, it’s very good for us if we manage him and keep him fit as he’ll help the team."

Pereyra was ruled out for the season after suffering a damaged miniscus in Watford's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad on December 19 last year.

And while Silva has been careful not to rush him back to action too early, he is looking solely to the future for a player who still has more gears to go through after arriving at Vicarage Road for £12 million from Juventus last summer.

"I believe the injury is behind him," he said. "Now is the moment to forget everything because it’s football and injuries happen. He’s fit now, we need to protect him, but now he is working hard in training and in the match. If he comes in fully fit he’s a different player.

"He can play behind the striker as our number 10, or on the left. He can play both sides and he has in the past. At Juventus he played in those positions too. He can play as a midfielder, on the left or the right. I believe if he play in any of these positions he can help the team.

"For me there are not different players in my team. For me everybody is the same. It’s impossible for me to say Pereyra doesn’t have quality – I’m not a liar – he’s a very good player.

"For me it’s the same for Pereyra as it is for Mason. My behaviour and my commitment with one or the other is the same. This is true, of course it’s impossible to say he’s not an important player for us, because everybody knows he is."