Heurelho Gomes says he will continue to push Ben Foster for Watford’s number one spot despite admitting this could be his last season at Vicarage Road.

At 37, Gomes accepts his career is reaching a natural climax after four years and 150 appearances for Watford.

He has had to play second fiddle at Vicarage Road for the best part of a year after initially losing his place in the staring XI to Orestis Karnezis and now offers support to summer arrival Foster.

Gomes could easily take a back seat and accept his standing, but, while he acknowledges the end of his Watford stay is near, he insists he will continue to fight for a starting spot.

“I will try to push hard but Ben is doing so well that is very difficult to get in over him,” Gomes told Sky Sports. “I am glad as well because I lost my place to a good goalkeeper.

“This will probably be my last season.”

Retirement is not an issue Gomes has shied away from discussing in the past and he remains a realist over how much longevity his career has.

A return to his native Brazil remains an option for Gomes even if he admits moving a young family which is settled in England would present obvious challenges.

He does, though, expect to remain in football in some capacity when he hangs up his gloves, although coaching is unlikely to be his chosen route.

“I am looking at other options, also in football, but in other roles,” he said. “I don’t think it will be a role inside the pitch.

“I do like life in London and my family has adapted well. Of course, it is going to be a big change if I go back there to Brazil but we are thinking about this as well.”

Gomes has been a key contributor to Watford’s journey from Championship outfit to established Premier League side and has seen the club’s growth first hand.

He feels the attitude of Watford’s squad has improved this season and feels the Hornets are now capable of attracting players who can take them to the next level.

“We are competing and that is a massive change since I came,” he said. “We can now see that when we lose a game away to Arsenal we are very disappointed because we could have won.

“There has been so much change for the better and the club is going to keep growing. The Premier League is so hard. It is a competitive league and we need to be at our best all the time.

“We have a very good squad now. Some young players and some players who are making the difference.

“I believe that the way we are playing right now, we will start to attract players as well.”