Cleverley chose to send Watford striker Rajovic on loan
Tom Cleverley says allowing striker Mileta Rajovic to go out on loan was his decision, and admits that if it goes wrong then he will be held accountable.
Last season’s top scorer moved to Danish side Brondby on loan for the rest of the season during the international break.
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A player who polarises fan opinion, Rajovic already has three goals to his name this season including the winner at Millwall on the opening day.
However, the loan signing of Daniel Jebbison from Bournemouth meant Cleverley had four No.9s in his squad and he decided he only needed three.
“It comes with some pressure does that decision,” the Watford head coach admitted.
“I’ve stuck my neck out, we’ve collaborated and we’ve come to that decision that it was best for the team.
“Now if that doesn’t work out it lands at my feet, and I have to shoulder that as the head coach.
But my job is to develop all the players I’ve got and help us win games.
“If I don’t, whether it’s because I’ve let Mileta go or for another reason, then the accountability is with me.”
While the departure of Rajovic may have come as something of a surprise to supporters, Cleverley said it was a move the player and the club discussed and agreed upon.
“It was a two-way street,” the Hornets boss stressed.
“He is someone I feel is too good to be third choice and then where does that leave him for match minutes?
“He is a great guy and I wanted to do what’s best for his career. That sits well with me as a coach.
“We’ve got Mamadou Doumbia who can fill that third choice, and I think that it is a good project to try and develop him.
“He’s an exciting player, and our strategy as a club is to develop these young players.
“He’s 18 years old and starting for his country.
“It’s my idea to have three No.9s in our system, I never wanted four as I think you create more problems than solutions by having four.
“Mamadou is perfect in that third-choice role, because he is learning all the time while also being able to give us something.”
Cleverley also made it clear that this loan move does not point to the Danish striker leaving the club permanently.
“What I do want to say about this is it by no means an exit for Mileta, and I talked to him about that,” said Cleverley.
“I see a future for him here and I hope he develops as a player.
“We know the qualities he can bring, and he brings the quality of doing what he’s paid for.
“There are other parts of his game he can develop and I hope he does that, and comes back a better player.
“But it’s certainly not an exit strategy.”
Nonetheless, removing the club’s top scorer is something of a calculated gamble, especially as there is not another player in the squad who has shown they can score goals regularly for Watford.
Yaser Asprilla and Ismael Kone, who scored 10 between them last season, have both left Vicarage Road while Vakoun Bayo has netted only 12 times in 71 appearances for the club.
With Rajovic loaned out, someone else will need to step up to the plate and deliver a steady supply of goals.
“Yeah, there is a risk, and we added Daniel Jebbison to be that person,” said Cleverley.
“We know what Bayo brings to the team and we can’t undervalue that. He needs to improve his goalscoring record.
“It’s my job to help him do that.
“But we’ve also added Jebbison which gives us something we didn’t have as a team – real running power and pace, and he’s a very good finisher.
“So yes there is risk in letting Mileta go, but he’s someone we think we have replaced well with Jebbison.”
One thing Watford appear unlikely to do is dip into the free agent market to fill a potential gap in midfield.
“Without having had too many conversations with the board about that, it looks like we’ll go with what we’ve got,” said Cleverley.
