Watford have completed the loan signing of West Bromwich Albion's defensive midfielder George Thorne.

The 20-year-old has joined on a youth loan until January 2 although the Baggies have a recall option after the first 28 days.

The Hornets have been interested in Thorne for some time and they were close to concluding the deal on more than one occasion last month.

However, the Baggies delayed his departure as he was unable to finish two Under-21 matches following a long lay-off with a serious knee injury.

Thorne joined the rest of the Watford squad for the first time this morning and will wear the number 29.

The player is highly regarded at West Brom and featured in seven consecutive games between late 2012 and January 2013 - starting five of those matches - before he sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The defensive midfielder made his debut as a 16 year old, when he came on as a late substitute in the 4-0 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday in November 2009.

He then had to wait until May 2011 for his next run out at professional level and started two Carling Cup games at the beginning of the next season and made an appearance against Arsenal before he joined Portsmouth on loan.

Thorne made ten appearances for Pompey during two spells at Fratton Park in the 2011/12 campaign and played three times for West Brom in between.

He had a couple of more starts in the Capital One Cup at the beginning of last season before playing seven times during a month-long loan spell at Peterborough United.

Thorne returned to The Hawthorns in December where he made seven outings before sustaining the serious knee injury which has kept him out since.