Watford will play Aston Villa in a friendly as a tribute to Graham Taylor.

The Hornets confirmed a fixture at Vicarage Road ahead of the 2017/18 campaign when they announced their intention to build a statue in honour of their greatest ever manager last month.

Agreement has now been reached for a game against the Championship club with whom Taylor also enjoyed success, winning promotion and then finishing second in the top flight, after leaving Vicarage Road in 1987.

Arrangements for the match have still to be confirmed, but it is expected to be played this summer and is set to attract a large crowd as fans from both clubs remember the former England boss who passed away in January.

Having moved to Vicarage Road in 1977 from Lincoln City, Taylor memorably led the Hornets from the Fourth Division to runners-up spot in the old First Division, into Europe and to the club’s first and only FA Cup Final appearance to date in 1984.

Taylor also guided Watford to back-to-back promotions in his second spell as they returned to the top flight. He subsequently became chairman in 2009 and had the Rous Stand renamed after him three years ago.