Emmanuel Dennis says he feels like he’s returning home to family after signing on loan for the rest of the season from Nottingham Forest.
The 26-year-old forward scored 10 goals in 35 games during the 2021/22 Premier League season before moving to Forest in August 2022, having last featured for the Hornets in the opening two Championship fixtures of the season.
“It feels good. This is my home, this is my family, and everyone is excited when they go back to their family, so I’m very excited to be here,” said Dennis, who spent the first half of this campaign on loan with Istanbul Başakşehir.
“It’s just like being in love; you can’t explain why you’re in love, it is just a feeling you understand.
“I have good memories and friends here and it makes me super excited. I wanted to come back. I was happy here and happiness is priceless.”
The Nigeria international lists his goalscoring debut in the opening-day 3-2 win over Aston Villa as well as finding the target in a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United as his Hornets highlights so far, but he is determined now to create new moments to celebrate.
“I’m very excited, the fans are happy to see me, and we are going to have more memories,” he said.
“Better, bigger memories than we have had in the past, so it’s going to be fun.”
The forward also discussed the influence that Valérien Ismaël has had on his return, stating the Head Coach indicated to Dennis that the door was open to him for a return.
He said: "He spoke to me and said ‘do you want to come?’ I told him ‘of course I want to come.’
"He is a good guy, he said a few words and that he is looking forward to working with me, which is good."
Dennis also explained how difficult he found leaving the Hornets at the end of his first spell at The Vic.
"Outside is different from what is going on inside; I never wanted to leave but for some reason I left," he said.
"It’s football. You go to different places, you just have to, it's part of the journey, the career, but different places is not the same. I’m here now, I'm back, and I want to be here, so let’s have fun!"
It is clear that the club means a lot to Dennis, a factor which had a great impact on his decision to return.
When it was announced he was leaving in 2022, he stated on social media that Watford would be Forever in my heart.
Asked whether this feeling remained, he simply replied with: "That’s why I am here."
With his final words reserved for a quick message to the fans, Dennis urged them to get behind the team and appreciate the next few months together.
He said: "Just keep supporting the players, supporting the club, be happy, enjoy, and we are going to make history together."
