Watford midfielder Tom Cleverley has stated the importance of the forthcoming league clash against Sheffield United on the road. The Hornets have made a dreadful beginning to the Premier League campaign and they are currently the only side, who have failed to register a victory after the opening seven games.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the former Manchester United graduate acknowledged that the Hornets have been poor over the past few games and they need to turn things around when Sheffield make the trip to Vicarage Road before the international break, he said: "We've been poor in the last couple of games. But Arsenal, Man City away, Wolves away is not the easiest three fixtures to come into and, with no disrespect to Sheffield United because they're a really competitive side, but we have to be really at it next weekend. We know that - we've been in the game long enough to know that next Saturday's a huge game."

The Hornets showed huge character to come from two goals behind to register a 2-2 draw against Arsenal this month and that earned new manager Quique Sanchez Flores with the plaudits. However, the positivity was shortlived as they were hammered 8-0 by Manchester City on the road and they have since suffered a 2-0 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home.

As such, they have registered just two points from the opening seven matches and they are already four points adrift of safety. In comparison, Sheffield have excelled the early expectations with a number of impressive displays and over the weekend, they succumbed to a slender 1-0 loss to Liverpool at Bramall Lane following a goalkeeping blunder from on-loan shot-stopper Dean Henderson. The Blades would be an easy opposition for the Hornets, considering they have already registered stalemates against Bournemouth and Chelsea on the road. They are currently occupying the 12th position on the table with eight points on the board.