Isaac Success - Watford

Isaac Success opens up on Watford struggles ahead of Marco Silva reunion

Isaac Success has revealed that he doubted his ability to compete in the English Premier League, amid struggles to get game time under former Watford boss Marco Silva.

Both parties meet in Monday evening's Premier League encounter as Silva's Everton welcome the Hornets to Goodison Park.

The Portuguese tactician will face his former employers for the first time since his summer move to Merseyside and he faces a player who grew in leaps and bounds since their last meeting.

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Success explained that, in those periods, he 'wasn't fit enough' and 'ready' and struggled to prove himself to a coach that found it hard to believe in him.

"I won't lie, I was having difficulties and I thought English football wasn't for me," Success told Daily Mail.

"The coach didn't really believe in me. I wasn't fit enough. I wasn't ready, physically or mentally. Coming back from injury and all, I was frustrated. All the other players were really sharp and doing well.

"It was difficult to get my chance and I wanted games to lose some weight and get back all I'd lost. My career stood still. Being alone, not feeling my future was safe, that worried me. Mentally I wasn't OK. It was really tough, and not knowing about the lifestyle side of football in England, I didn't get it right."

Isaac Success PS

Success is back to full fitness and has worked his way to becoming one of Silva's successor, Javi Gracia's trusted legs. This season, he has played 17 games, 15 of those in the Premier League, scoring three goals.

Those feats earned the 22-year-old an improved five-year deal and he revealed that he had to imbibe some good and helpful habits to reposition himself at Vicarage Road.

"The main factor was that I wasn't fit and wasn't working," Success continued.

"I made mistakes because I wasn't working hard and needed to concentrate more. I'll always be the same person but I needed to reduce everything I was doing and I've reduced it.

"I stuck to my plan. When you're fit it's more difficult to get injured, and if you're injured you recover on time. So, this season is going well because physically I'm fine. I lost a couple of kilos and that made me faster and stronger. I feel sharper.

"I have a coach who believes in me and he gives me confidence and freedom to do what I want on the pitch.

"I was eating a lot of African food and it was a little bit heavy but I've cut that out and I'm on the team diet, eating with the team. Eating earlier at night, it's really helped.

"All of this has been a big change in my career and I say a big thank you to the Watford family for believing in me and for keeping me - and hoping I can get better. I am getting better. I am grateful for that."

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