Malky Mackay expects new Watford signing Troy Deeney to be a “real handful” in the Championship and says the striker is desperate to score goals at this level.

Deeney finally completed his move to Watford on Friday after the club previously had four bids for the 22-year-old rejected.

Walsall have been keen to describe the deal as £500,000 plus another £150,000 should Watford reach the Premier League and although we understand the fee is slightly misleading as it consists of a number of incentives, the Hornets fans have high expectations from their club’s most expensive acquisition of the summer.

But Mackay does not expect Deeney to disappoint. He said: “We have been tracking Troy for a year and all credit to the people at our club to make that happen because, please believe me, that wasn’t an easy negotiation with that football club.

“I am delighted to get him in the door and he is delighted to be here.”

Mackay continued: “He is a centre forward who is hungry for goals and not afraid to sweat. He wants to work hard for his team and he looks a handful, he really does.

“In the games we watched him he looked a real handful and he was Walsall’s Player of the Year, which tells its own story.

“I am delighted we managed to acquire him. He is hungry to go to the next level and he wants to work hard to get there.”