Hornets first in queue for Johnson

Watford would be favourites to land Middlesborough winger Adam Johnson on loan should he become available despite heavy interest from Wolves, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday.

Neil Warnock may well be keen to talke to Jinky's representatives about a switch to Selhurst but Hornets gaffer Aidy Boothroyd has already been in regular contact with Gareth Southgate with regard the England U21 winger...

And has been assured by the Middlesborough boss that Johnson will head for Vicarage Road if he goes anywhere in the near future!

Boothroyd said "If the opportunity came up then we will be the first ones in line… I have spoken to Gareth at length on a couple of occasions but he wants to keep him [Johnson] there at the minute and that`s fair enough".

Johnson was a revelation during his 2-month loan spell with the Hornets earlier in the season, scoring 5 and creating bagfuls of chances in his 11 games before recalled back to the Riverside early.

But the talented wideman has been a bit part player for the Premier League outfit since his return to the fold - managing only 91 minutes of action since December!