Brendan Rodgers has already been busy in the transfer market ahead of the opening of the window, signing Gavin Hoyte on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the season and securing the services of Liam Bridcutt for another month.

Hoyte, who is eligible to play in Saturday’s FA Cup third round tie with Scunthorpe United, will be known to some Hornets fans already after featuring in the young Arsenal side which reached the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup before being knocked out by Burnley.

The brother of former Gunners defender Justin Hoyte played the full 90 minutes in each round of the competition and made his first Premiership start against Manchester City on November 22.

The 18-year-old England Youth international is the Arsenal Reserve team captain and can play anywhere along the back line, but has mainly featured at full-back.

There were a number of sides interested in Hoyte, and it is understood that the defender was close to going to another club before Rodgers took over at Vicarage Road in November and that Arsenal pulled the deal once they knew the Northern Irishman was interested in the youngster.

Rodgers has also succeeded in extending Bridcutt’s loan deal from Chelsea until the end of January after the defensive midfielder’s previous agreement came to an end.