When Craig Cathcart joined Watford this summer it is fair to guess he envisaged Beppe Sannino handing him his second Hornets debut.

When the Italian head coach departed last month, the image would’ve changed to Oscar Garcia.

But it was his Spanish colleagues Ruben Martinez and Javier Pereira who handed the centre-back his first appearance of his second spell at Vicarage Road.

That was because Oscar was recovering in hospital after suffering chest pains on Sunday, September 14.

Cathcart was introduced as a first-half substitute against Bournemouth on Saturday and netted the equaliser in the Hornets’ 1-1 draw.

Watford have been without their head coach for the last two fixtures and Cathcart, who suffered a minor heart scare two years ago, was asked if the Hornets players had been affected by Oscar’s absence.

“Football is a strange game sometimes but you just have to get on with it,” he explained.

“Ruben has taken charge of training and made sure we were focused on the match. So we’re taking it game by game. We don’t know when the manager will be back but hopefully it’s soon.

“Once you come to the match day, we’re used to the atmosphere. When you’re on the pitch you forget everything else.”

He added: “We worked on a few things in the week without the manager being here. They (Martinez and Pereira) know him and know the way he (Oscar) wants us to play. But it might take a week or two to get it 100 per cent right on the pitch.”

A knee problem suffered in pre-season meant Cathcart missed the first five weeks of the campaign. The defender has struggled with injuries in the past and has never played more than 33 competitive club games in a season.

But he insists he is fully recovered and is hoping to secure a place in the Golden Boys’ starting XI.

Cathcart’s first spell with Watford came in 2009. At the time, he was a 20-year-old Manchester United player whose loan move helped him gain valuable experience. He made 12 starts before his loan was cut short due to injury.

A move to Blackpool followed in 2010 and he went on to make more than 100 league appearances for the Tangerines – including 30 in the Premier League.

Cathcart said he was an improved player when he re-signed with Watford and, on Saturday, added: “I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think I’d bring something to the squad. Over the last four years I’ve built up experience and played a lot of games in this league. I know I am capable at this level.”

He proved that on Saturday. He produced an assured display and described his volleyed equaliser as “definitely the best goal I’ve scored in my career”.

He added: “I haven’t scored many and it wouldn’t take much to beat the previous efforts. I’m glad to come on, get the goal and get us another point.”