Watford's Troy Deeney doesn't rule out England call-up

Slimmed down and more agile since Spanish manager Javi Gracia took charge in January, Deeney has emerged from a disillusioning slump into one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League on current form.

England manager Gareth Southgate has indicated he wants to blood youngsters going forward, but with Jamie Vardy having opted surprisingly to end his international career, the top-flight cupboard is hardly overflowing with English strikers starting regularly for their clubs.

"I didn't deserve an [England] call-up for the last two internationals because it's only four games in and I believe that you have to earn your stripes to be with the national team," Birmingham-born Deeney told BBC Radio 5.

"But if I can carry on what I'm doing I'm sure the media and the other guys will start to ask the question as to 'what more can he do?' My job is to make sure people ask that question.

"I will never rule out playing for my country. Jamie Vardy won the title with Leicester and had a fantastic season and made it impossible not to include him for England. But that's what I have to try and do."

Watford take on Manchester United on Saturday at Vicarage Road. In their last game they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 there with Deeney equalising.

"We are enjoying it," Deeney said. "The biggest thing for us was the Spurs game. That really gave us belief that this really could be something good because going a goal down against a so-called big club we had to show a lot of resilience and fight and again the fitness levels were perfect."

Despite sitting above United in the table, Deeney said they can approach Saturday's game with a nothing to lose attitude.

"We have done okay against United. We enjoy it because it's like a free hit, people have already written us off," he said.

"We know if we win the headlines will all be about [Jose] Mourinho and why this Untied team is not compared to the greats. On our tight pitch, with the floodlights on it's a bit like a theatre and hopefully it's raining!

"We can make it uncomfortable for them."