Mfuni repays Watford's trust with assured debut
Stephen Mfuni's only first-team game for parent club Manchester City was as a substitute in a 10-1 FA Cup win over Exeter City
- Published
Interim Watford boss Charlie Daniels backed teenager Stephen Mfuni to have a "top career" following his assured debut in their 0-0 draw at Hull City.
The 17-year-old centre-back, who was signed on loan from Manchester City last week, played the first 66 minutes against the Tigers.
Daniels did not have long to assess the youngster before naming him in the team, having only been put in charge on Sunday following Javi Gracia's resignation.
"Everyone at some stage has got to make their debut. For us it was quite simple, he showed his qualities in the (training) session that we had and we put trust in him, we put faith in him, and he repaid us," Daniels told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"He was excellent and will have a top career but at this moment we still need to work (with him), improve a lot of things and the person that he is, that I've got to know over the last 48 hours, he will work hard and he will get better and better."
Former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels says he will 'enjoy every moment' of his time in charge
The draw at Hull left Watford eighth in the Championship, just three points away from the play-off places, as the search continues for Gracia's successor.
And in another change, Nampalys Mendy was brought into the starting line-up in a holding midfield role, to give Imran Louza more licence to push forward.
"I thought he did everything that a good six does," said Daniels, who was assisted by ex-Watford players Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa.
"He was picking up the second balls when we needed him, and in possession he was finding the right passes. When there was a tackle to be won, he was winning it and he was tracking his runners.
"It allowed not only Imran, but Edo (Kayemebe), Giorgi (Chakvetadze) and (Othmane) Maamma to really do what they're good at, which is creating and scoring - which unfortunately we didn't do, but definitely the creating side."
Watford will be on the road again on Saturday when they travel to Southampton, but Daniels does not know whether he will still be in charge for that game.
"All we can say is 'control the controllables'. We work hard as a staff and we're going to be on the (training) pitch working with them as hard as we can within the short space of time that we have and try to implement what we're after."
