Watford boss Marco Silva says he intends to make use of the club's academy products over the course of the season.

Silva mentioned Brandon Mason specifically when asked about the future of the Watford academy graduates, and he feels there could be a few players who make the step-up from development level in the season ahead.

He told the Hertfordshire Mercury: "We need to see. I think during the season opportunities will come for these players.

"I'm happy really with Mason, he did very well with us in pre-season. All the others they had the chance to work with us, some of them in Austria as well, and of course the season is long.

"There are a lot of games and some months are really hard and you need to have everybody ready for when the opportunities come and the chance is there."

Mason was one of five U23 players handed debuts but former boss Walter Mazzarri in his one season in charge, alongside Dion Pereira, Carl Stewart, Andrew Eleftheriou and Michael Folivi.

Some of Watford's younger players may be sent out on loan before the transfer window closes but it seems as if Silva wants to keep his options open at this stage.