Former Watford coach Craig Shakespeare finds himself as a relegation rival to the Hornets for a second time this season after joining Norwich City.

Shakespeare was Nigel Pearson's assistant during the 2019/20 Premier League season when Watford were relegated to the Championship.

He joined Aston Villa last season and has since followed manager Dean Smith to the Canaries to replace Daniel Farke, who was also axed the weekend before last, despite overseeing Norwich’s first win of the season.

Smith had been fired from his post at Villa on the same weekend, with the Villains sitting on the same points as Watford, and has been replaced by former Rangers boss and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Norwich's sporting director Stuart Webber said Smith’s track record made him the right man for the job and revealed he had been a “long-term target”.

“I have admired his work for some time and he has been a long-term target in the event that we needed to appoint a new head coach,” said Webber.

“Dean has an outstanding track record and as soon as he made it clear that he was ready to go straight back into a managerial role we contacted him immediately.

“He shares the same values and vision as the club, has a proven track record of winning games in the Premier League as well as developing players and building a winning culture and mentality.”

Smith and Shakespeare's first game at the helm will be at home to Southampton on Saturday – the same opponents as their last match in charge of Villa.