Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley has rejoined Watford on loan until the end of the season with the option of a permanent deal and is expected to be involved against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has completed his medical ahead of his second spell at Vicarage Road and is the club’s first signing during this month’s transfer window.

Cleverley spent the 2009-10 Championship season on loan from Manchester United at Watford scoring 11 goals in 35 matches.

The Hornets have been hit by a raft of injuries in recent weeks and his arrival will add to their options in midfield.

Cleverley has been restricted to 12 appearances this season for the Toffees and with Morgan Schneiderlin on the brink of signing his chances of featuring for them were slim.

Speaking prior to confirmation this afternoon, Hornets head coach Walter Mazzarri said: “Tom Cleverley is here and already passed his medical but he hasn’t signed yet. There shouldn’t be any problem but we are just waiting for everything to be official.

“I had training today and as soon as I finish I will go and speak with him. For sure he’s a player that will give us great help from today until the end of the season together with all of the players that will arrive.”

He added: “I think, as I say to all the new players, the most important thing is their will to give everything for the club, have important quality and to work hard as much as possible to make the fans happy each week.

“The first thing is to make everything official and then tomorrow it will be his first training and the last for us of the week.  If everything goes well I would like to at least have him with us on the bench.”