 He made his first-team debut for the "Hornets" on 5 January 2002, coming on as an 89th-minute substitute for Paolo Vernazza in a 4–2 defeat to Arsenal at Vicarage Road.He got his first start in the First Division on 31 January, in a 1–1 draw at Preston North End.He played a total of 11 games in the second half of the 2001–02 season, though was sometimes played out of position by manager Gianluca Vialli.