Getting the “adrenaline buzz” from playing Premier League football was a feeling Ben Foster had missed until making his first league appearance of the season on Saturday.
The 38-year-old is certainly proven at this level, having made over 350 appearances in the top flight, and he noted experience as a key factor in the Hornets’ 3-1 victory at Norwich City.
“I thought the team selection was really good, it was an experienced team,” he said. “I’d love to know the average age - it would be over 30, I guarantee it, with me propping it up and doing it no favours whatsoever!
“But I think that’s what was needed. When you’ve lost three games in a row and you’re coming away to a place like Norwich where you know it’s going to be tough, you need that know-how.
“When you’ve got the goals and are ahead you need players to shut the game down and finish it off, and the way we did that was fantastic.”
Ismaïla Sarr was stationed in his usual right-wing role at Carrow Road, but his ability to penetrate the Norwich defence and score twice from inside the box is a quality Foster sees as crucial to the way Watford play.
He said: “I keep saying to the lads, just get the balls out wide and get it into the box, they’re brilliant.
“Ismaïla Sarr, not only is he rapid and gets down the wing and gets the ball into the box, but now he’s getting into the box as well and scoring goals.
“It’s going to be so important for us this season that players like him chip in with goals.”
Foster made a fine save to deny Milot Rashica in the second half and coped with Norwich’s attacking trident expertly throughout the clash in East Anglia.
And having helped the Golden Boys to thir second league win of the campaign the former England international insisted he is feeling at the top of his game.
“Personally as a goalkeeper it’s very difficult if you haven't played for a while and all of a sudden you’re here,” he said.
“I’m feeling good, honestly. I do a lot of cycling so it keeps me fresh, and keeps the weight off anyway because I do like my food. I’m 38 years old, why wouldn’t you like your food? I feel really, really good.
“There’s something about that kick-off at three o’clock, when that whistle goes, the adrenaline buzz you get.
“I can do things on a Saturday afternoon that I can’t do in training on a Tuesday afternoon, and I love it so much and I’ve missed it. It was great to get out there again.”
