Charlie Barnett tipped for star role at Telford

Barnett endured a stop-start first season in Shropshire and produced only flashes of his ability, but the club still claimed the Conference North title.

However, Watson believes Premier football may bring out the best of the 25-year-old in the middle of the park and harness his undoubted pedigree.

The former Liverpool and England youth player has amassed over 100 games in the Football League for Tranmere Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

Watson said: "The one I am tipping to have a really good season is Charlie Barnett. He needs to come back in great shape and ready for one of our proper pre-seasons.

"He didn't have that last year. If we can get him super fit, we could have a top player on our hands. You look at Scott Brown, who went to Grimsby Town earlier this month.

"He got himself a big move based on his performances for Southport and Charlie is capable of going on to do the same. There's reasons why it hasn't come off for him yet.

"He's had to come terms with not being in the Football League, playing part-time for a team who are a bit more direct than what he's used to. But he never once sulked."

The Bucks boss also reckons non-league's top flight could bring the best out of striker Tony Gray, who scored 24 goals at the level for Southport in 2011-12.

He said: "I have sold and signed Tony before. Three years ago, I probably would have let him go in the summer, but he'd just finished with four goals.

"The following pre-season, he turned up looking really sharp and went on to get 24 goals in the Conference Premier. You just never know with him.

"I could actually see him coming back and ripping it up for us. After what he's done, going back into the Premier shouldn't frighten him at all."