Billy McKinlay has joined Oscar Garcia’s Watford backroom staff as first-team coach.

The 45-year-old former Scotland international midfielder has been working as Northern Ireland assistant manager since 2012 and will continue in that role as number two to Michael O'Neill after moving to Vicarage Road.

The Hornets head coach made it clear when he brought in Javier Pereira to work with fellow assistant coach Reuben Martinez that he was looking to make another addition to complete his coaching team.

McKinlay made his name as a player with Dundee United where he enjoyed a ten-year career before moving to Blackburn Rovers in 1995. Stints at Bradford City and Clydebank before he returned to England in 2002 with Leicester City, before his playing days ended at Fulham where he was recruited as player-coach by Chris Coleman.

McKinlay remained at Craven Cottage as reserve-team coach but took charge of the team alongside former Hornets boss Ray Lewington when Lawrie Sanchez was sacked in 2007.

He continued to forge an impressive coaching reputation developing Fulham’s younger players, retaining his place on the staff alongside current England boss Roy Hodgson, his successor Mark Hughes and then Martin Jol, with whom McKinlay served as first-team coach.