Defender Cedric Avinel has joined French club FC Gueugnon on loan for the rest of the season.

The club, who are in France’s third-tier, have an option to purchase the 22-year-old permanently in the summer.

The move comes after FC Gueugnon took the Frenchman on trial last week.

Avinel arrived at Vicarage Road in January 2007 but made just three first-team appearances for the Hornets.