IN the absence of spending Christmas with his family, Brendan Rodgers sprung a nice surprise on Lewis Young by naming the rookie forward amongst his substitutes yesterday (Friday) at Vicarage Road.
The 19-year-old is enjoying his first season as a professional and as such, this was his first festive period taking part in games for the Golden Boys.
Rodgers handed Young his first taste of Championship football with the Hornets as he came off the bench with the home side two down against the Robins of Bristol City.
Young said: "I wasn't really expecting it [to play a part] - the manager sprung it on me the morning of the game when he was naming the team.
"I haven't been involved for the last couple of weeks so I've just had to get my head down and get on with it and carry on knocking on the gaffer's door. He's been impressed with me and gave me a little run out."
With the rest of the Young family away - the Stevenage born forward had to sacrifice spending Christmas Day with the clan due to the festive football fixtures.
He revealed: "It's been very different - all my family are up in Birmingham and I've had to have Christmas dinner on my own! But, I'd rather have been playing than opening presents."
Young spent the first period on the substitutes' bench but was brought on at half time as Rodgers introduced two graduates of Watford's Academy in Young and Ross Jenkins.
Young added: "We gave away an early lead and struggled to claw our way back.
"Over the Christmas period hopefully we'll get some points somewhere and with a game coming up so soon we can put that wrong right.
"The manager just told me to go out there and do what I've been doing in recent weeks, in the second half we went for it, and we did seem to put them on the back foot but we couldn't get the goals to get back at them.
"The new manager is changing the style of play which is very promising for the youngsters coming through the system.
"We all knew each other well coming through the Academy and we're starting to feel part of the first team now."
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