The 2022-23 campaign will be the fourth consecutive campaign that Watford have started the season in a new division.
Like Norwich City and Fulham, the Hornets seem to be yo-yoing between the Premier League and Championship year on year.
With the new Football League season upon us, HITC Sport take a look at Watford’s last opening day Championship XI ahead of the Vicarage Road side’s opener at home against Sheffield United on Monday night.
Watford’s last opening day Championship XI
Ben Foster – Free agent
Currently a free agent, the former Manchester United, Birmingham City and England international has been linked with a move to Leeds United this summer.
Across two spells with the Hertfordshire-based club, the 39-year-old made 207 appearances for the Hornets but he won’t form part of Rob Edwards’ rebuild.
Craig Cathcart – Watford
Watford’s last Championship opening day match saw them beat Middlesbrough 1-0 thanks to a header from Cathcart when Vladimir Ivic was in charge.
Like Foster, the Northern Ireland international spent an initial loan spell at Vicarage Road from Manchester United, but he re-joined the club on a free transfer in 2014.
The 33-year-old has made 233 appearances for the Hornets and he was part of the side that reached the 2019 FA Cup final.
Ben Wilmot – Stoke City
Wilmot joined Watford from Stevenage in 2018 and after having loan spells with Udinese and Swansea City, the former England Under-21 international went to play 33 times for the Hornets.
After joining Stoke last summer, the 22-year-old made 39 appearances in his first season with the Potters.
Christian Kabasele – Watford
It seems like the Belgian has been at Vicarage Road for what feels like forever having made the move from Genk six years ago.
The two-time Belgium international has played 141 times for the Hornets and the 2022-23 campaign will be the second season the 31-year-old has plied his trade in the Championship.
Jeremy Ngakia – Watford
A product of the West Ham United academy, Ngakia made the move to Watford in 2020 to chase first team football.
The 21-year-old has made 45 appearances for the Hornets and he’ll be looking to establish himself as a mainstay in Edwards’ starting XI.
Tom Cleverley – Watford
The former Manchester United midfielder has been named Watford’s new club captain ahead of the Edwards era commencing.
Like Foster and Cathcart before him, the former England international also had a loan spell with the Hornets during his time at Old Trafford.
Cleverley has had three spells at Vicarage Road and he joined the club on a permanent deal in 2017 after an initial loan spell from Everton. The 32-year-old, who has 13 England caps to his name, has played 177 times for Watford during his career.
Domingos Quina – Watford
Since joining Watford from West Ham in 2018, Quina has had loan spells with Granada, Fulham and Barnsley, with his most recent stint away from Vicarage Road coming via the Oakwell.
The 22-year-old has played 37 times for the Hornets and he’ll be looking to establish himself as a regular under the former Forest Green Rovers manager.
Nathaniel Chalobah – Fulham
The former Chelsea youngster spent the 2012-13 season on loan at Watford before joining the Hornets on a permanent deal in 2017.
After four years at Vicarage Road, Chalobah made the move to Fulham and he was part of the Cottagers side that secured Premier League promotion last season.
Across his two spells with the club, the one-time England international made 127 appearances for the southerners.
Kiko Femenia – Watford/Villarreal
After five years in England, the Spaniard is set to return to his homeland with him joining Villarreal.
The 31-year-old, who can play at full or wing-back, made 151 appearances for the Hornets after joining from Alaves.
Ken Sema – Watford
The Swedish international made the switch to Vicarage Road in 2018 from Ostersund before heading out on loan to Udinese a year later.
From 86 appearances for Watford, the 28-year-old has produced seven goals and nine assists. It was Sema’s corner from which Cathcart scored against Boro two years ago.
Joao Pedro – Watford
With Watford’s star men Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis likely to leave before the summer transfer window closes, the Brazilian youngster could become the main man at Vicarage Road.
The 20-year-old, who made the move two-and-a-half years ago from Fluminense, scored nine goals and provided three assists during his last campaign in the Championship.
Edwards and Watford fans will be hoping that Pedro can become one of the standout performers in the Football League this season.
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