Kaylen Hinds’ impressive trial with Watford Under-23s has been rewarded with a permanent deal.

The 21-year-old former Arsenal striker has signed a one-year deal with the option of a further 12 months.

Hinds has been with the Hornets since the start of pre-season and has started the new campaign in scoring form, netting in the 5-0 victory against Hull City before bagging the late winner at Sheffield United on Monday.

“It felt good,” he told the club website. “I’ve been out of football for 15 months and now I’m back. It feels good scoring again. Hopefully the ‘trialist’ can change to my actual name now.

“From now until Christmas my main goal is to get my confidence back and start playing to the best of my ability. Then after Christmas to push into the first team or go out on loan.”

The forward joined the Gunners from Leyton Orient’s Academy as a 14-year-old in 2012 and has been part of the England age group teams from Under-16s to Under-20s.

Hinds left the Emirates Stadium club in July 2017 to link up again with former Arsenal academy boss Andries Jonker, who had moved on to manage German side VFl Wolfsburg.

However, the striker was to have his contract terminated in September 2018 for what the club stated was a period of “unauthorised absence of several weeks”.

Admitting he had found it difficult to settle, Hinds said: “It was a very good start, but it just didn’t work out in the end. So, I came back to England to start my career off again. You’re away from your family and friends, you’re not doing the normal things you would do back at home.

“I feel much more comfortable here. I feel like I’ll be happy again and this will be a chance to show what I can do. It’s weird as sometimes when I come to training, I’ll see some of the boys from Arsenal on the motorway or something. I know this area well and it feels like home already.”