Troy Deeney has invited six former cellmates to Watford's match against Manchester United.
The striker served three months in prison in 2012 after pleading guilty to affray following a fight in Birmingham city centre.
"I've got people coming down from there, my cellmates," Deeney told reporters. "Six. I told them it'd all come true - I do my best work when people doubt me the most.
"[They are] People that helped me get through and helped me get motivated when I didn't really want to. I knew what I was going to do [in succeeding as a professional footballer]. I can't say whether a team's gonna buy me or this team's gonna keep me or we're going to do this, but I knew what I was going to do from that moment.
"I have [proved people wrong] all my life. When people write me off that's when I perform my best."
The 27-year-old has scored 79 goals in 217 appearances for the Hornets.
