As he prepares to head to Deepdale with Brentford, top-scorer Ollie Watkins reflected that he has come an awful long way since his days in League Two.

The 21-year-old forward, who joined the Bees from Exeter for a reported fee of £1.8million after being named last season’s EFL Young Player of the Year, has found the net five times in all competitions so far.

A trip to Preston and one of English football’s most historic grounds is a far cry from the venues that he used to visit as a Grecians player but the Exeter youth-team product is looking forward to attempting to help the Brentford stretch their current unbeaten run to six games.

“Whenever I see Preston North End, they look like a good team. I think they are similar to us in that they pass it and press,” said Watkins.

“I am looking forward to going there – it is another new place for me.

“I have always enjoyed going away from home. When I was at Exeter City, that is what we were good at.

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“It gives you a bit more of a challenge and I look forward to it. You want to play against the biggest and best teams, so I am really looking forward to it.

“I don’t try and think about the opposition too much, although it will be a big difference to, say, Morecambe away.”

Watkins also showed plenty of humility when asked about his own start to life at Griffin Park.

The Bees man said: “It’s a shame that the international break came just after Middlesbrough (a 2-2 draw on September 30) as I had just started to pick up a bit of form.

“I have to get back into the swing of things and pick up the three points on Saturday.

“It is a big step from League Two to the Championship but I have just tried to take it in my stride.

“I couldn’t have done that without all the great people around me and I don’t take it for granted.

“I want to keep progressing and bring something to the team each week.”