Tommy Watson has offered one of the more patient defences of a manager's project you are likely to hear from a player who, by his own admission, has not yet nailed down a starting spot. The on-loan Brighton winger told BBC Radio Leicester that Russell Martin's style of play is "probably the most I've enjoyed my football" in terms of the system, even while acknowledging that results and his own output in the final third have not yet matched that feeling.

It is the kind of quote that will either reassure Leicester City supporters or test their patience a little further, depending on where they currently sit on the trust spectrum. The Foxes have made a faltering start to life in the third tier following relegation last season, and Saturday's 1-1 draw at Barnsley, against opponents who were reduced to ten men, only added to a sense that the machine is not yet running smoothly.

Watson's comments came after he scored twice in a 6-1 EFL Trophy win over Fulham under-21s on Tuesday, his first goals since joining the club on a season-long loan in August. He has started just one League One match in that time, with six further appearances from the bench. Four months into the arrangement, then, the winger is still searching for consistency at this level. He was candid about that.

"There was a little bit of frustration for me coming into the game, especially after the weekend," he said. "As attackers we have to put it on ourselves as we had 70 minutes to win the game on Saturday and we didn't, so we wanted to be ruthless."

The double strike will have done his confidence no harm at all, and Watson was at pains to point out that the physical benefit of getting 90 minutes under his belt was equally valuable, even though he picked up a knock after his second goal and had to check it at half-time. That he stayed on to complete the match suggests nothing serious.

The broader message, though, was one of faith in Martin's system. "Ask any forward and this is the style you want to play as a team," Watson said. "Although some of the fans and outside noise have been frustrated, I think once it clicks it's going to be a joy to watch and a joy to play in."

That word, "once", is doing a fair amount of heavy lifting. Martin's possession-based approach has drawn similar remarks from other members of the squad, and the site has already reported on Jacob Joseph's comments backing the manager's vision. There is clearly a strong belief in the dressing room that the system will eventually bear fruit. Whether the League One table gives them long enough to find out is the more pressing question.

Leicester currently sit well short of where a club of their resources and ambition would expect to be in the third tier. The international break has at least provided a pause for breath, and Watson will be hoping to push for more starts when league action resumes. The next fixture is a home match against Peterborough United on 10 October, a game that already carries some weight given the slow start to the campaign.

Watson is 20 years old. A brace against under-21 opposition is welcome, but four League One starts is four League One starts, and that is the arena where he will ultimately be judged. If Martin's system does click into place over the coming weeks, Watson looks well placed to benefit. If it does not, the frustration he mentioned after Saturday will only grow, for player and supporter alike.

Frequently asked

Who is Tommy Watson at Leicester City?
Tommy Watson is a 20-year-old winger on a season-long loan from Brighton, who joined Leicester City in August. He has made seven League One appearances so far, mostly from the bench.
When is Leicester City's next League One match?
Leicester City's next League One fixture is at home to Peterborough United on 10 October, after the international break.
How has Russell Martin's system been received at Leicester City?
Several players, including Tommy Watson, have spoken positively about Martin's possession-based style, though results in League One have been inconsistent and some supporters have expressed frustration with the slow start.