WITH Scott Loach returning from his break after international duty yesterday (Monday), former Golden Boy 'keeper Alec Chamberlain praised the youngster for his hard work over the last 12 months.

Chamberlain said: "He's been having a well earned rest after an exciting summer. He's come a long way in a short space of time.

"He was probably second or third choice this time last year and ended up playing the majority of our first team games and then to cap it all he got in the squad with the under 21's.

"Scott's someone who is going to come back invigorated."

The ex-goalkeeper said that being part of England's under 21 side will have benefited Loach in the long and the short term.

"It would have been a fantastic experience for him just being around that quality of squad.

Chamberlain on Loach: "He'll come back invigorated"

"When you actually look at the individual players that were there and the sides they come from, for him to be rubbing shoulders with them can only have done him good."

Chamberlain believes there will be more Golden Boys breaking through to the first-team in the future. 

The former stopper added: "It's always been well-documented about Watford's financial problems, yet all the way through it we've managed to keep good young players coming through.

"There's loads of really good players here - Lee Hodson, Rob Kiernan and Michael Bryan who may be a little unknown to most, but they have the potential to be very exciting this year.

"So we have a lot of big hopes for the young lads coupled with good experience alongside them.

"It should be the dawn of an exciting new team.

"The younger players will be able to learn from the experiences of the likes of Scott and Jay [DeMerit]. It's about getting that fine balance right."

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