Tom Cleverley is excited to get back on the pitch for the first-team, with the Watford captain hoping to make his anticipated return against Blackburn Rovers this weekend (Saturday February 11, 3pm KO).

After being sidelined since August’s 1-0 victory over Burnley, and subsequently undergoing achilles surgery, the 33-year-old has been fighting to return to full fitness as quickly as possible.

The midfielder believes his recovery took an important step forward yesterday afternoon (Tuesday February 7), as Cleverley played 45 minutes for the Under-21s during a 2-1 defeat to Crewe Alexandra in Kings Langley.

“I was excited to get out there,” he began. “It didn’t quite go to plan as far as the result was concerned, but it’s an important 45 minutes in an uncontrolled situation for me.

“It’s a massive step forward to be available for the first-team. It did feel good. There is always that anxiety in the back of your mind, that no matter how much training and gym work you do, nothing can replicate being at your maximum for 45 minutes. That’s when it comes under the most strain.

“The biggest test is a single leg jump off the operated side, which fortunately I don’t have to do too much! You have to manage your way through it, and the other one has been as good as gold for four or five years. Nothing is in my way now to perform as well as I can. I will recover well now, and hopefully be good to go on Saturday.”

Cleverley could have potentially featured last time out against Reading, but following conversations with the medical staff and Head Coach Slaven Bilić, the collective decision was to err on the side of caution.

He continued: “I thought I could have an impact during the Reading game, but I think that was my heart making decisions over my head. The club, who have given me a fantastic rehab, said one more stepping stone – play for the Under-21s for 45 minutes and then you’ll be in a much better position to be involved.

“It was not so long ago that [Bilić] got promoted, and we believe he is the guy to take us up. We are working every day to make sure that is the case. I feel like he has missed one or two of his older heads, which I think the boss really values.

“Fresh legs and fresh minds are important, because I think with 46 games disappointing results can sometimes get on top of you. I think you will see a bit of a different team in the coming weeks.”

Cleverley also travelled down to Vicarage Road on Monday to watch Watford’s Young Hornets in action against Arsenal in the FA Youth Cup, and was proud of the performance that Charlie Daniels’ charges put on.

“I was really proud of the team,” Cleverley explained. “To be drawn against Everton and Arsenal is never going to be easy, but I thought we probably scored too early in the game and gave them 85 minutes to get back into it.

“There were some great performances and some of the lads will have caught the boss’ eye, and that will add to the first-team experience some of them are already getting. There was not much between the two teams other than one or two stand-out players for Arsenal.

“Our lads can be proud not only to go 2-0 up, but 4-2 is certainly not embarrassing and they mixed it with some of the best in the country.”