Watford manager Walter Mazzarri has challenged Troy Deeney to prove why he deserves an international call-up with his form at club level.
The 28-year-old is in a rich vein of form with three goals in his last four games, but was overlooked by interim England manager Gareth Southgate for the recent World Cup qualifying double-header against Malta and Slovenia.
Deeney is one goal short of reaching a century for Watford, and Mazzarri is confident that he will get his England chance if he keeps up that goalscoring form.
"Deeney has to show and to prove in the next games that he can be called up to the national team. When I speak with Troy, I always tell him that he just needs to show it with Watford in order to be called up for the national team," he told reporters.
"He's got everything that a good forward needs. He's got physical, technical ability. It's just a matter of him proving it with Watford.
"The important thing is for them to perform very well on the pitch, helping the whole team. If he does this the goals will come. I hope he doesn't score only 100 goals, but many more."
Watford will take on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on their return to Premier League action this weekend.
Barney Corkhill
