Watford boss Tom Cleverley delivers glowing verdict...

At midday on Saturday, Sunderland will play Watford at the Stadium of Light.

Tom Cleverley, the manager of Watford, has praised Sunderland as a “outstanding” team ahead of their matchup at

the Stadium of Light on Saturday and said that he “really enjoys” seeing the Black Cats play.

The Hornets, who lost 1-0 to Norwich City last time out, want to end a three-match losing streak in the

Championship when they visit Wearside this weekend. Cleverley’s team is only three points outside of the play-off

spots despite heading to the North East in 12th place in the table after that recent slump in performance.

And while the Watford boss is wary of the size of the task facing his team, he is also adamant that they have what it

takes to rise to the occasion against a Sunderland side who they have already beaten once in the league this season.

Tom Cleverley on Sunderland

“They’re a team that I really enjoy watching, to be honest,” Cleverley remarked in response to a question about

Saturday’s opponents during a news conference. They don’t attempt to create something new. They’re really effective

in what they do, their recruitment’s been great, their management appears quite calm and calculated.

“I like watching them play football, they’re a team who, like I said, in all the leagues across the world, I enjoy

watching Sunderland play football. I like how they’ve developed academy players into a really important part of their

club, and I respect a lot what they’re doing. It’s going to be a tough test, but you’ve seen all season, the tougher tests

have brought the best out of us.”

Cleverley also praised the Black Cats for their January hiring, noting that the team had successfully signed Jayden

Danns and Enzo Le Fée on loan last month. “I’m sure financial power plays a part in it, and I don’t know what they’re

paying wages, but it’s not small money when you can get players like Le Fée through the door,” he continued,

referring specifically to the Frenchman’s entrance. We go there with confidence because, in addition to being a team

we’ve defeated twice in the last ten months, they are a club I much admire.

Cleverley also gave the Black Cats credit for their January hiring, pointing out that last month the squad had hired

Enzo Le Fée and Jayden Danns on loan. “I’m sure financial power plays a part in it, and I don’t know what they’re

paying wages, but it’s not small money when you can get players like Le Fée through the door,” he added, referring to

the Frenchman’s entrance in particular. Not only are they a team we’ve beaten twice in the past ten months, but

they’re also a club I greatly respect, so we go there with confidence.