Troy Deeney has returned to the Watford training ground to begin his rehabilitation following knee surgery that has ruled the skipper out of action for the foreseeable future.

The striker went under the knife around two weeks ago, but is now back at the Hornets' London Colney training ground working to get himself back to match fitness under the watchful eye of the club's physios.

Speaking to the club website following his first day back, the captain said he it has taken some time to come to terms with his situation and that he needs to be realistic regarding the amount of time it will take to get him back on the pitch.

“It's my first proper day back and I've had a bit of a blow out,”said Deeney.

“It's all part of the long road back. I've been fortunate to have only four injuries, I think, in 13 or 14 years, so I've done well in that sense. Anything else I've just usually had an injection and cracked on. But this has taken some getting my head round.

“I just need to do it (the rehab) properly and I need to be realistic. I'm 31 – I'm not 21 anymore and got loads of time on my hands. Pete [Webb, the Watford physio] has broken down the plan for me and there are going to be days when I feel good and want to do more, but he'll have to hold me back until the knee is safe and secure.

"I'm not in too much pain. It's just more the discomfort from the fluid that's still in my knee. I was in a lot more pain before the op.”

After a pre-season in which he claimed he had felt better than ever before, the 31-year-old is disappointed to be injured so early on in the campaign, especially with this year being his tenth at the club.

However, he claims he still has a good level of fitness, which could help him recover sooner and make this year an important one in his career.

“I was flying in Austria and feeling really good,” he said.

“I was adamant it was going to be a big year for me, with it being my tenth year here, and I wasn't going to let what I thought was a little niggle stop me. I carried on and it ended up being to my detriment. But I've got through pre-season so I've still got that base [of fitness], so it shouldn't take me as long. It's a slight set-back but it will be a major comeback.”