Watford defender Younes Kaboul is hopeful his side can finish in the top 10 of the Premier League this season.

The Hornets only returned to the top flight following an eight-year absence in 2015, but they never looked in any danger of being relegated during that campaign, eventually finishing 13th.

Former boss Quique Sanchez Flores left the club at the end of the campaign, but his successor Walter Mazzarri has picked up where the Spaniard left off, with Sunday’s victory at Middlesbrough sending the club into the top half of the league standings.

Centre-back Kaboul, who only joined the club from Sunderland in August, has been impressed by the team since his arrival and he sees no reason why they cannot end the campaign in the top half.

Asked if they could finish in the top 10 , the Frenchman said: “Well, it depends.

The first season, you always get that spark because it’s new, bring back in the Premier League, so last season, the club did very well.

“The target this season is to do even better if possible; if not, to be like last season. But we always look to do better, of course.

To be in the first half of the table would be perfect for the club.” Watford have won three of their last five top-flight fixtures and they will be looking to continue their good run of form when they travel to the Liberty Stadium to take on Swansea on Saturday.

Mazzarri’s men are available at 3.00 to win the match, while the Swans are priced at 2.38 and the draw is on offer at 3.20.