WATFORD midfielder Tom Cleverley has had a quietly impressive Premier League career, one which includes lifting the Premier League trophy with Manchester United, but he admits that the first result he looks out for is that of his hometown club, Bradford City.

The 30-year-old was born in Basingstoke but moved to Bradford at 18 months old. He was in City's academy between 1998 and 2000 and has fond memories of that time in his life.

Speaking about Bradford, Cleverley said: "I did all my schooling here and I was a season ticket holder during both Premier League years.

"I'll always remember us beating Wolves at Molineux in 1999 to gain promotion too.

"I don't get to the matches these days but I'm still a Bradford City fan and I always look out for their results.

"I still think a lot of the place and I like to help out where I can with whatever I'm passionate about (Cleverley helped raised funds for home improvements for a Tyersal mum who collapsed with brain damage and sponsored childhood friend, West Bradford golfer Dane Bairstow, to help him turn professional).

"My mum still lives here and I often come back when I have a couple of days off to see my mates from school."

Cleverley is undoubtedly most famous for his time at Manchester United. He joined the Red Devils' academy from the Bantams at the turn of the century and remained at the club until 2015.

He mused: "It was a great place and obviously it had its trusted youth policy. I did my time out on loan and came through what was my sort of trial period. So I felt I was ready for the first team (around 2011).

"It was fantastic to play under Sir Alex Ferguson and there were perfect role models there like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney.

"When I retire, I'll look back and feel really proud of my time there."

Asked about why he eventually departed, Cleverley said: "It was my choice to leave. If a manager tells me I'm going to have minimal game time (then I'll look elsewhere).

"Louis Van Gaal had come in and he told me he was signing a central midfielder. Daley Blind and Bastian Schweinsteiger came in pretty quickly so it was my time to leave. I then went to Aston Villa and Everton."

Speaking about his time at both, Cleverley said: "They're two great clubs, Villa and Everton. I probably preferred it at Villa as I was playing more centrally and we got to an FA Cup Final (against Arsenal in 2015).

"At Everton, they played me on the left of midfield, which is not really my position. But both are fantastic and my time there has helped me understand my role more moving forward to Watford."

After his struggles with injury last season, Cleverley has now eased into a regular starting role in the Hornets' central midfield.

He pounced on a Sokratis Papastathopoulos error to score in Watford's fine 2-2 comeback draw against Arsenal earlier this month and said he is really enjoying his football again.

Cleverley enthused: "It's great to have a starting place as it has been a bit stop-start.

"My Achilles has been a big problem but it's the best I've felt in years at the moment. I have zero fitness issues and I'm feeling confident."

That aforementioned draw against the Gunners was the first game of Quique Sanchez Flores' return to Watford. He managed them in their first season back in the top flight in 2015/16, taking them to an FA Cup semi-final too, but he still departed after only 10 months in charge.

Speaking about Flores' comeback, Cleverley said: "It's a fresh start for us. Quique had watched our first four games and it's ideal because he knows a lot of the players from when he was here before.

"From my point of view, it's nice to be playing and doing well in a manager's first few games in charge."

Tom Cleverley career profile:

YOUTH CAREER

1998–2000 Bradford City

2000–2008 Manchester United

SENIOR CAREER

2008–2015 Manchester United

2009 Leicester City (loan)

2009–2010 Watford (loan)

2010–2011 Wigan Athletic (loan)

2014–2015 Aston Villa (loan)

2015–2017 Everton

2017 Watford (loan)

2017– Watford

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

2009 England U20

2009–2011 England U21

2012 Great Britain

2012– England