'We have to learn from last season' - Cleverley

Watford must learn recruitment lessons from last season when their Championship promotion challenge fell away, says head coach Tom Cleverley.

The Hornets are three points short of the play-off places and, at the same stage last season, were four points behind the top six before going on to finish 15th.

"We must bring in some fresh minds as well as an injection in quality - the next two weeks is an important period for us," Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Last season I'm sure we were in a similar position at this stage and fell away. We have to learn from that. Why did that happen?"

Watford have made one signing so far in this January transfer window with the addition of defender James Abankwah on loan from Italian Serie A club Udinese for the remainder of the season.

"Like most other clubs now, recruitment is left to another department.

"We sit down and talk about what type of team we want to be, what system we want to recruit to, what areas of that system we see we can improve the most, and we highlight some targets. I have my input, and that's taken on board, and hopefully as many of those [as possible] can be executed," added Cleverley.

Watford visit Derby County in the Championship on Saturday.