Ben Wilmot has the ideal temperament to become a “top player”, according to Darren Sarll.

Having worked with Wilmot as he made his first strides in the game while at Stevenage, Sarll, who is working in a senior youth management role at Watford, is better placed than most to pass judgement on the 18-year-old.

Wilmot has so far impressed in two Carabao Cup outings for Watford, putting in strong performances in both midfield and central defensive berths.

While his talent is clear for all to see, it is Wilmot’s personality which Sarll believes will allow him to prosper at the very top of the game.

“First and foremost, he has a wonderful character and is a really great lad,” Sarll said. “He has a great temperament, an icy temperament, and he never panics.

“We put him in the team in the third round of the FA Cup for me at Stevenage against Reading and it was like he was playing on a Saturday morning with the youth team.

“The temperament of a player and a human being in general is fundamental to what they do. Too many people in this game try and separate that from the playing side which you can’t.”

Wilmot’s move to Vicarage Road for a fee of £1 million represented a coup for Watford as they beat of competition from the likes of Tottenham Hotspur to sign the centre-back.

He is viewed as one for the future in many ways but has shown enough to suggest he will play a part throughout the remainder of the 2018/19 campaign.

Sarll’s position sees him work with the club’s junior players, a set-up Wilmot could easily be viewed as part of given his tender years.

The former Stevenage manager accepts that a player of Wilmot’s ability is always likely to leapfrog playing Under-23 football and believes Watford have a real gem on their hands.

“As a youth development coach, if you ever have a real top player, you don’t get a chance to work with them,” the 35-year-old said.

“Ben is a wonderful footballer. You don’t have to be a magician to coach top players and they see the game differently.

“Elite individuals see the game in a certain way and Ben has that. He makes it look very easy and is very comfortable.”

Even at the age of 17, he was marking the likes of Jon Stead, who has played at the top level, and made it look pretty straightforward.”

Wilmot, who still only has 17 senior career appearances to his name, may have all the attributes to succeed, but progression in football remains far from an exact science.

For Sarll. marrying temperament and talent is the key for any player and helping them do so is a part of his remit while at Watford.

“You need to be a top professional and top person to succeed, it all has to be there,” he said.

“It is impossible to have any longevity in your career without that and we are trying to bring those things together so players get the most from their potential.”

Wilmot’s chances of gaining some first team exposure remain limited, but the one-match ban picked up by Christian Kabasele for a red card against Bournemouth could boost his cause.

Adrian Mariappa is the likely replacement for the game with Wolverhampton Wanderers a week on Saturday.

Wilmot, though, has impressed in training and when given the chance to play and will hope to gain a Premier League chance further down the line.