3/1 To Win
Watford midfielder pens month-long loan deal with the Rams.
Derby County have this evening completed the signing of Watford midfielder Craig Forsyth on an initial one-month loan deal, subject to Football League clearance.
Following leading goalscorer Jamie Ward’s hamstring injury in the Rams’ narrow 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Friday night, Forsyth has been brought into Pride Park to bolster Nigel Clough’s ranks.
The left-sider is expected to be eligible to make his debut against Championship leaders Cardiff City on Tuesday evening at Cardiff City Stadium.
The 24-year-old joined the Hornets from Dundee in June 2011 but, despite scoring five goals in 22 appearances last term, Forsyth has found first-team action at Vicarage Road hard to come by following the appointment of Gianfranco Zola last summer; featuring twice in the league and on a further two occasions in the Capital One Cup.
The Scot spent two months on loan at Bradford City earlier in the season, making six appearances and scoring in the Bantams’ Johnstone’s Paint Trophy victory over Port Vale before returning to Vicarage Road.
Manager Nigel Clough said: “Craig is someone we’ve been aware of for a while and we’ve been impressed whenever we’ve seen him in action, so it’ll be good to have a look at him a little more closely.
“The injuries we’ve picked up of late have obviously been frustrating, but it’s presented us with a chance to bring Craig in.
“We’ve got options up front, despite Jamie Ward’s injury, with Conor Sammon, Chris Martin, Michael Jacobs and Mason Bennett, but we’ve been left a little bit short in midfield so Craig’s arrival certainly strengthens that area.”
Forsyth began his career with Carlogie Boys Club before joining First Division side Dundee in 2006, where he was handed his debut at the age of 17.
He joined Scottish Third Division club Montrose on loan in February 2008 until the end of the season. He made nine appearances for The Gable Endies, before joining Arbroath in another temporary move, where he scored his first senior goal in a 1-0 victory over Brechin City.
Forsyth returned to Dundee and established himself in the club's first-team, and helped the side finish sixth in the Scottish First Division, despite the club being docked 25 points for entering administration.
His form for Dundee did not go unnoticed, as in June 2011, Forsyth joined Watford for an undisclosed compensation fee, signing a three-year deal, and the left-sided midfielder went on to score on his debut against Burnley on the opening day of the 2011-12 campaign.
