Andre Gray wants Watford to focus on improving throughout pre-season, as the club prepares to follow up their most successful ever Premier League campaign.

The Hornets achieved their highest ever points tally, as well as a record number of goals and victories in the Premier League and Gray said pre-season was a vital part of that success.

Speaking to the club website, the striker said he hopes this season will see further improvement.

“The togetherness we achieved in pre-season last year played a really big part," he said.

"Everyone wanted to work hard and everyone wanted to do well, so this year should be even better.

“We know what we did last pre-season to get to where we were, so now we need to push that little bit more if we want to take that next step again.

“We all know that every year the Premier League gets harder and harder, so we know that we always have to be that one step ahead if we want to build on last year.

“We showed last season what we can do but to be honest we all know we can still do even more, so we need to push for that.”

Despite pre-season playing an important part in preparation, Gray believes it is a part of the game no one actually enjoys.

The 28-year-old, who scored 9 goals in all competitions last season, is much more interested in getting back on the pitch.

“If anyone tells you they enjoy pre-season, they’re lying! I promise you that," he said.

“I’d much rather just get to the games but you’re not physically capable of going straight into it, so we all get on with it because we know it needs to be done.

“No-one likes the running but we know it needs to be done, and when the balls do come out it’s always fun because that’s what we love to do.

“It’s just part and parcel of pre-season. Some of us have been around a long time now and have done many a pre-season before, so we know what it’s all about.”

“As pre-season goes on it usually ramps up, so next week and the week after it will get really, really tough,”

“The first week is usually quite difficult but compared to the weeks after it’s just easing you in really.”