Birmingham fan Troy Deeney is using Aston Villa rivalry as extra motivation, admits Quique Sanchez Flores

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Troy Deeney is using the prospect of celebrating in front of Aston Villa's fans as 'extra motivation' to score for Watford on Saturday, admits Quique Sanchez Flores.

The 27-year-old striker had a trial at Villa at the age of 15 but didn't bother turning up on his final day, deciding instead to chase girls on the West Midlands estate he grew up on.

Deeney found an alternative route into professional football and the Birmingham City supporter is desperate to net against their arch rivals, admitting: 'To do that in front of the Holte End, with thousands swearing me, will be lovely.'

Watford captain Troy Deeney scores from the penalty spot against Manchester United last weekend

Deeney, pictured celebrating against United, is keen to get the better of Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon

A hostile atmosphere awaits the Watford captain at Villa Park but Flores insists Deeney, who even has a Birmingham tattoo on his calf, will use it to his advantage.

'This kind of situation creates an extra motivation for the player,' Flores said. 'I talk about this matter with Deeney for maybe two minutes during the week so I don't feel worried, scared, nothing.

'I'm very, very calm in respect of the situation.'

Deeney captained Watford and scored 21 goals when they were promoted from the Championship last season.

He has three to his name this term ahead of the tricky trip to Villa, though Flores admits his forward isn't even contemplating losing to the Barclays Premier League's bottom club.

'He is very competitive,' Flores added. 'He never wants to lose, of course, but against Aston Villa, it's not in his mind to think about losing.

Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores applauds the fans at Vicarage Road after defeat by United

Nathan Ake (left) and Almen Abdi (right) celebrate with Deeney after his third Premier League goal 

'He is part of the soul of this team. He represents very well what we want. We want a lot of top players implicated in the tough task we have in this division.

'He is fighting always. He is scoring now. I love these kinds of players.'

Deeney netted against Manchester United last week but was also the culprit of the stoppage-time own goal that condemned Watford to a 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road.

He will look to make amends on Saturday with Flores backing Deeney to lead Watford towards safety – a tough task given the club have never survived relegation from the Premier League in their previous two attempts.

'He is always focussed on what is happening in the squad in the dressing room, on the pitch, during the matches,' Flores said. 'Always. Like a boss. He's a captain.

'He has managed every time so if something happens he transmits it to me to say: "Coach, this situation happened." As a coach sometimes I don't know what happens in the interior but within the collection he is very important.

'I am very happy to have a couple of English leaders, like Deeney, like Watson. It's very important for me.'