The 19-year-old was a surprise starter on the left of midfield for Fulham's return to Craven Cottage after two years and looked assured during his introduction - albeit for the opening half hour before Ashley Young stepped in.

Ben Herd was also a surprise starter at right back, linking up well down the flank with Neal Ardley - who hours earlier had signed a new contract.

Dominic Blizzard partnered 'Player of the Season' Gavin Mahon in an experimental line-up that kept Fulham firmly under wraps for the opening half - with Danny Webber, Hameur Bouazza and Young testing veteran keeper Mark Crossley on a very greasy surface.

Fulham were by no means at full pelt, missing some of their bigger names like Edwin Van Der Saar, Luis Boa Morte, Brian McBride and Steed Malbranque. The pick of their performers in the opening 45 was captain Sylvain Legwinski, showing some neat touches in the heart of the home side's midfield.

Keeping up with the Watford substitutions just before the break kept these typing fingers on their toes. And when Chris Coleman made six at once on 40 minutes it highlighted the light-hearted nature of the contest.

At the start of the second half, prompted by the non-emergence of first-half ref Peter Walton, the PA announced it was an 'exhibition match' to allow the subbing to continue to flow, as Jamie Hand, Richard Lee and Scott Fitzgerald took to the stage.

Watford's travelling fans were the first opposition support to be housed in the brand new Putney End and made plenty of noise next to the banks of the Thames.

They should have been celebrating a Watford opener five minutes after the break, but sub keeper Ross Flitney superbly tipped away Fitzgerald's low shot when he broke clear. Bruce Dyer headed into his arms from the resulting corner.

Ray Lewington continued to use the full extent of his resources, giving Jason Norville and Cameron Mawer run-outs, while Fulham should have won it near the end when Ismaeul Ehui had a clear run on goal but blazed over when Jamie Collins was caught on the back foot.

It was a decent test for the entire squad and they will be more than happy to have kept a Premiership side at bay while coming through with a clean bill of health before boarding the plane for Ibiza.

Watford: Chamberlain (Lee 45), Herd (Mawer 70), Smith (Mayo 42), Blizzard (Gunnarsson 42), Doyley (Collins 60), Dyche (Cox 40), Ardley (Devlin 42), Mahon (Hand HT), Webber (Fitzgerald 45 (Norville 70)), Bouazza (Dyer 40), Ferrell (Young 30 (McNamee 65)).

Fulham (starting XI): Crossley, Rosenior, Green, Fontaine, Legwinski, Knight, Pembridge, Doherty, Pratley, Lawless, John.