Craig Cathcart has said he felt honoured to have been chosen as a stand in Watford captain at times during the current season and said it was a chance for him to use his experience more.

Speaking to the club website over the weekend, the Northern Ireland international claimed the armband didn't change his approach to games too much, but that he hoped he set a good example.

"It’s been an honour to be named captain on a few occasions earlier this season, when Troy was out injured," he said.

"I think it’s the first time for over 10 years that I’ve had the armband. In fact, the last time was probably when I was in the youth team at Manchester United. I was captain for Northern Ireland Under-21s a few times too but apart from that it’s not something I’ve done very much. During my time at the club the captain’s been a bit of a mainstay. To be honest, it doesn’t really change much in terms of preparation on a matchday for me. The only thing that’s really different is that you go to speak to the referee with the manager before the game. I’m professional anyway and I try to set a good example, even when I’m not captain, so it doesn’t change too much. That’s something you need to be doing more and more when you’re an experienced pro and you hit 30.

"In terms of my leadership style, you’d probably have to ask the other lads. I just try to be professional and set a good example that way. I’m not a screamer or a shouter but I do have a little bit of a head loss sometimes. On the whole I don’t think that’s very helpful though. I’m not really one for a team huddle either. We do a lot of talking in the dressing room so when we go out onto the pitch everyone knows what we’re doing by then and in my opinion it’s time to just get on with it and show it."

Looking back on his time with the Hornets, the centre-back said that promotion to the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-final win over Wolverhampton Wanderers were the main highlights, even with the cup run ending in a 6-0 defeat to Manchester City.

"In my time at Watford there have been some real highs," he said.

"The promotion year was definitely up there as a highlight. We wanted to win the league so we were disappointed not to do so in the end, but the momentum that promotion run-in gave us going into the Premier League was great. That first year in the Premier League was special too. To do as well as we did was incredible. I managed to play more or less every game that year, which led me into the Euros with Northern Ireland, so that was a very special year for me. Obviously last year was great too and the FA Cup semi-final was the stand-out moment. It was disappointing how it finished with the final, but it’s that Wolves game that sticks in my head the most."