Troy Deeney back in the gym as Watford striker embarks on personal pre-season a month before he is due back to join squad

After guiding his side to top flight safety, you would expect Troy Deeney to be somewhere far, far away on a sun lounger in hope of recharging his batteries following a long season.

But unlike most footballers not required for international duty, the Watford striker was back working hard in the gym as he looks to take on the 2016-17 Premier League season in his best physical condition.

Deeney, who made 43 appearances for the Hornets last season, updated fans on Twitter, writing: 'Work until you can't work anymore - back with the evil genius @jamie_velocity thanks as always'.

Troy Deeney is back in the gym, training hard as he looks to start next season in the best possible shape

Deeney was in excellent form for Watford last season, scoring 15 goals and assisting seven in all competitions

Alongside his personal trainer Jamie Reynolds, Deeney was put through his paces with a variety of tough exercises as he hopes to land a good first impression on incoming boss Walter Mazzarri. 

The Watford captain was seen completing box jumps, resistance training and weight training in addition to some endurance drills despite pre-season not starting for at least another month.

These images come just a few days after Deeney was quoted as saying that he 'can't get comfortable' and that he 'wants more' despite being an established Premier League footballer. 

The Watford striker completes a box jump, an exercise that is used to improve explosiveness and leg strength

Deeney also took part in some resistance training which will build on his already substantial core strength

Reflecting on Watford's 2015-16 season with WD Sport, Deeney spoke about the drop in form which saw them sink from the top half of the table to just above the relegation zone. 

'A lot of it was down to us,' Deeney said. 'As a team, we got a bit comfortable and started to play in areas we weren't in the first half [of the season].

We have some real talented players in this team and when we started to get close to what we wanted to achieve, they started expressing themselves a bit more. 

'We went away from the framework and, in the Premier League, you can't do that.'

Deeney will take part in his own mini pre-season before joining up with the rest of the Watford squad in July

Yet despite their 2016 struggles which saw them win just four times in their last 21 games – they succeeded where Graham Taylor's team of 1999-00 and Aidy Boothroyd's group in 2006-07 failed.

'It's massive,' said Deeney. 'It's the first time it's ever been done. Everyone has heroes from that generation, like Ashley Young or Marlon King but they never managed to keep Watford up. 

'This bunch of players has. When you look at the teams that went down, look at their budgets and the players in that team it shows what this group is all about. I think things are going to be get better.'

The Hornets captain believes that 'things are only going to get better' as they look to improve on last season