Hornets stalwart Lloyd Doyley underwent successful neck surgery on Tuesday and the Watford defender will now begin his rehabilitation with the club’s medical team.

The 32-year-old, whose contract with the Golden Boys expires this summer, sustained what a club source described as a ‘medium-term’ injury prior to the end of the season.

Doyley was still able to train but wasn’t included in a Watford match-day squad after the Hornets’ 2-2 draw at Derby County on Friday, April 4.

The full-back was told he would require surgery to correct the problem and went under the knife earlier this week.

And yesterday (Thursday) Watford confirmed the procedure had gone as planned and that Doyley would now begin his rehab with the club.

Doyley is a Golden Boys legend. He came through the club’s academy system and his 443 appearances over the last 14 years sees him occupy the fifth spot in the club’s all-time appearance makers.

He has struck just two goals during his Watford career. The first of which was a memorable header which came against Queens Park Rangers in December 2009. The other was a mishit cross at Bolton Wanderers in September 2012.

While Doyley has been a regular starter during the majority of his time with Watford, he has struggled to break into the Hornets first-team this season.

He made only eight appearances during the current campaign, with the last coming on Boxing Day in the Golden Boys’ dour 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.