Watford vs Southampton preview - Berghuis inspired by Van Persie

Posted Saturday, August 22, 2015 by PA

Watford forward Steven Berghuis has revealed Robin van Persie inspired him to join the Barclays Premier League.

Berghuis became one of many summer recruits to the club's ever-growing multi-national squad when he arrived from AZ Alkmaar for B#4.6million in July.

Van Persie, the sole survivor of an influential generation of Dutch Premier League footballers that included Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Dirk Kuyt, left Manchester United for Fenerbahce only days earlier but his influence on the 23-year-old winger remains.

"Of course (I'd like to emulate them)," said Berghuis. "I followed Van Persie the most in my youth, Bergkamp a little bit and Van Nistelrooy. I think Van Persie is my favourite of the three.

"He is left-footed, creative and always tries to show nice things, he's nice to watch.

"I like to play with my left (foot) from the right, and try to create chances. Always playing forward.

"I like to play from the right. At AZ (Alkmaar) when I was playing good it was always from there."

Nathan Ake, who has joined Watford on loan from Chelsea, is another Dutchman in the Hornets' squad.

While at present there are concerns about the limited opportunities available to young Premier League footballers, Berghuis felt he had to seize the opportunity to move to England while the option remained because of a belief that Dutch football is in decline.

"I spoke with (QPR's) Leroy Fer (about the Premier League)," he said. "I spoke with (Middlesbrough's) Dwight Tiendalli also. They all told me I have to (join the Premier League) because it is an amazing competition. And also with my age I think I had to do it.

"In Holland the level is going down and the clubs in other countries don't look a lot at Holland anymore because the level is going down, I think.

"I had an injury last year where I broke my foot, you never know if that can happen again. So I had to take this chance and it is a beautiful club."

Southampton have started their Premier League campaign slowly but manager Ronald Koeman is refusing to blame it on their European involvement.

Having taken one point from their opening two league games, Saints travel to face Watford on Sunday looking for their first victory of the domestic campaign.

Koeman's side were also held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of their Europa League play-off against Danish champions FC Midtjylland on Thursday night but, at such an early stage of the season, Koeman feels the extra fixtures are not a burden on his players.

"I hope it will be a problem later on in the season but there's no tiredness at the moment, because we're starting the season," he said.

"We don't have long to prepare for the next game but at the start of the season that's not a problem. Maybe it's good to play so many games because we need to develop and improve and cut out mistakes. The second half (against Midtjylland) was good but we are learning."

Southampton kicked off their Premier League season with a draw at Newcastle before being outplayed in a 3-0 loss to Everton at St Mary's last week.

A fixture against newly-promoted Watford may look like a good chance to pick up a maiden league win of the season but, having drawn with both the Toffees and West Brom, Quique Flores' side have suggested they can quickly adapt to life in the top-flight.

"It's always nice to play a promoted team and they have had two good results, the start of the season is very positive for them," Koeman added.

"It takes time to integrate into the Premier League, that was the case for me last year, finding how difficult and tough it is, but the manager has always had good organisation in his teams so it will be a tough one."

Jay Rodriguez will be hoping to score his first league goal in 17 months after grabbing the equaliser against Midtjylland, while both Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama - reported transfer targets for Manchester United and Tottenham respectively - are likely to keep their places in Koeman's side as Saints insist neither will be sold.