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Watford closed out their week-long training camp in Algorfa with a packed day of playing and travelling on the agenda.

With fellow Sky Bet Championship side Blackpool the Hornets’ opponents in a friendly at the Pinatar Arena around half-an-hour away from the La Finca Resort in Spain where the Golden Boys were staying, breakfast was combined with a pre-match meal at 10.15am local time, with pasta and meats part of the selection.

Packing bags and checking out of the resort, a half-hour trip to Murcia’s Pinatar Arena followed for Watford’s 1.30pm game. Arriving as the sun was at its highest point and feeling the heat, both sides agreed to breaks during the game to ensure the highest quality of match.

Tom Dele-Bashiru played his first full 90 minutes since pre-season, Jeremy Ngakia featured for the entire first half having been out through injury since September, and Ben Hamer occupied the sticks for the first time as a Watford player.

The game finished 1-1 with Keinan Davis on the scoresheet for the Hornets in the first half, and Head Coach Slaven Bilić was pleased with the intensity of the friendly encounter.

“It was a good session,” Bilić began. “A competitive game, as competitive as it could have been.”

“We had a few players back like Jeremy, Tom and Ben, who hasn’t played since he’s been here, it’s the first time I could see them. No injuries, thank God! Now we’ll go back home, one day off and start again.”

Eating a post-match lunch with Poland’s World Cup win over Saudi Arabia playing in the background, it was back on the road soon after, as the squad returned to Alicante Airport to check in baggage.

The two-and-a-half hour flight back to England went smoothly, and as phones switched off airplane mode news of Argentina’s win over Mexico became the buzz in the group, with arguments around who out of Lionel Messi’s nation and Brazil would win the World Cup the hot topic amongst Joseph Hungbo, Keinan Davis and João Pedro.

Reflecting on a week’s hard work, Bilić is hoping to build on the progress his side have made upon their return to England.

“The whole week was good,” continued the Head Coach. “The weather was great and top facilities. We had very good sessions and good energy, exactly what we wanted and so it was a good game today and we’re exactly where we want to be.

“We had to work on the basics, in terms of physicals. We wanted to reach some targets and didn’t spend a lot of time here but it was good, and we have two weeks more to work. We are in a good way and it’s very positive for the club and around the club. If nothing happens with regards to injuries, we are ready for the restart.

“In Spain we have done more physical stuff, and now we’re going to add more intensity. We have that base, and we have to get more intensity, detail and tactics. It’s all going according to plan.”