Yet despite the poor run of results Watford have endured this season, DeMerit has stood out as a beacon of effort, heart and no lack of skill in winning over the critics and creating a lot of rumours of a possible transfer should the North London club not beat the drop.

While the defender’s talent can no longer be in any doubt, his place in the international pecking order still is, simply because he took charge of his career rather than leave it to the vagaries of the US league and coaches to deduce his talent.

Catching up with DeMerit as his side prepare to take on Jonathan Spector West Ham in the FA Cup, he is adamant his side can create history in defying relegation and hope to force his way into the MNT, he revealed:

“We found ourselves in the position we were in against Blackburn 5-6 six times this season, there have been a lot of points that we should have taken already.

“If we look at it in a positive way, if we perform as we have been doing in the last half of the season, we should go on a run of 7-8 games, and win some and hold on to the draws.

“We have basically not been holding on to good situations, so there is no reason why we can’t get out of the position we are in.

“We’re seven points a drift at the moment but that is not even three wins. If we win the next couple of games and the teams above us struggle, we are right back in there, we’re bringing in some guys at the moment and they look strong and will help us.

“We have defiantly more than held our own this season in this league, we just haven’t had the little things you need sometimes, like the referee calls and finishing our chances, or conceding goals in the last couple of minutes.

“It’s the little things that have got us in this position, and can get us out. If we get this right getting out of trouble will not be a problem.”

Despite much of the media predicting The Hornets demise this season, DeMerit grabbed the winning goal against Blackburn Rovers last week to register his second goal of the season, and more importantly infusing the team with some much needed confidence, to give credence to their desperate misfortune in their league campaign this season, he added:

“It doesn’t top the Millennium stadium goals but, it’s a different situation now. But to get it was fantastic and hopefully it will be a spring board to getting more good results.

“I want to see the season out in style and continue the form I have had, and get the team out of trouble. I want to keep developing and I always ask of myself, will I be a better player than yesterday and I feel I am still progressing.”

The former Chicago Fire reserves stopper has acclimatize well to the Premiership, and hasn’t been intimidated by the big names he has had to mark, like Thierry Henry and Louis Saha, most seasoned observers now recognize he will be a huge addition to the National Team and a middle ranked EPL side, DeMerit has maintained laissez-faire attitude choosing instead to focus on the here and now, he said:

“Sometimes it’s surreal especially when your up against the big big guys you can’t help but notice where you are and the players you’re up against, but at the end of the day its XI v XI so you take it as it comes, and if you can do your job you know your doing something right.

“It is a bit surprising sometimes but if I didn’t think I could be here I don’t think I would be.

“I hope to get in the squad, I think it would be a good bonus that you get when you play well for the club, but ultimately its out of my hands. I want to do must best for this club and if the head coach thinks that warrants a call up then fantastic.

“But until something happens I’ll just keep doing what I'm doing, but they are goals that I have set out to accomplish, however you never know.

“I ready to make that step, in the last few seasons I've been the only player in the Championship or higher that has not played in the MNT. I’ve played against all those guys, and though I haven’t had an amazing amount of experience to get to the level I’ve handled the steps up. I would definitely love the challenge of doing it, and representing my country.”

Jay DeMerit, PDL to the EPL in two years. As a center back in the National Team who knows where the Stars and Strips could get to in South Africa in 2010….

Andrew Rogers can be reached at andrewrogers@optonline.net

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