Sixteen-year-old defender George Abbott made good use of his opportunity with the first team on Saturday, impressing the likes of Troy Deeney and Ben Foster in the friendly win over Colchester.
The first-year scholar, who has been part of Watford’s Academy for five years, enjoyed the experience of playing men’s football.
"It was an amazing opportunity to play with the first team,” he said. “It was a lot different, a lot harder but I think there was a lot that I can take away from it and learn from the more experienced players.”
Abbott’s efforts on the pitch did not go unnoticed, receiving support and advice from teammates during the game.
“The lads were amazing and helped me settle in. It was nice that they knew my name and passed on their experience to help me learn,” said Abbott. “Mattie Pollock was speaking to me about when strikers pin you, different ways to win your headers and your aerial duels.
“I had Ben Foster behind me and Troy [Deeney] up front saying ‘well done George’, so it was amazing.”
As a young player with less experience of senior football than those he was playing against, Abbott had to adapt to the speed and physicality of the men’s game.
“The tempo of the game was higher, the players were more physical,” he said. “Obviously I'm used to playing against 16 to 18-year-olds but these are grown men, they’re stronger and they have more knowledge than me.”
Abbott is looking forward to the season ahead with the Under-18 squad, and has set goals ahead of the upcoming campaign to continue his development.
“I’m a first-year scholar, so I want to be a leader within the Under-18s age group, do well with them and hopefully push on to the Under-23s,” Abbott said.
“If I can get a few sessions with the first team and get even more experience it will be great, because if I go back down with the 18s and 23s that will help me build on my game.”
