What does the future hold for - Nathan Ellington?

With the season winding down, it`s the time of year players, managers and chief executives sit down and decide on the futures of the playing staff. With that in mind, and coupled with the Hornet`s tight financial belt ,VitalWatford will be taking a look at those who are out of contract, on loan or out of favour at the Vic` ahead of the Summer.

Today it`s the turn of Nathan Ellington...

We`re all familiar with the Nathan Ellington story, the self-styled 'Duke` has been an unqualified failure in WD18, to the extent he`s now in his third loan spell away from the club who paid a whopping £3.25m for his 'services` back in the Boothroyd-Ashton-Simpson heyday.

Currently marooned in the relegation zone with Phil Brown`s Preston North End the former Wigan striker has yet to find the scoring touch which deserted him some four years ago now. A moderately fruitful spell in Greece with Skoda Xanthi has been the only real 'form` he`s shown since he signed to provide competition for Marlon King and Darius Henderson.

Still on quite hefty wages and with little to offer it`s as good as certain the club will wave goodbye to their record signing when his contract expires this summer. The one good thing that will come of Ellington`s inevitable final departure from Vicarage Road is that his wages will be freed up - hopefully Malky Mackay will see that money for re-investment in the team.

Ellington will go with little fondness, frankly he didn`t help himself. Bar Malky Mackay he clearly was not in favour with either Aidy Boothroyd or Brendan Rodgers and his languid manner on the pitch is not one which will endear a group of supporters any time soon. Why he didn`t follow John Eustace`s example in waiving an appearance fee (or part of his alleged 25k per week wages) in order to play is a mystery. The only way to put yourself in the shop window afterall is to play football, preferably well.

Sadly for Hornet`s fans, we never saw 'The Duke` manage that; who will is the question...

Watford Appearances: 20 (+31) 5 Goals

Season Appearances: (On-loan at Preston North End) 6 (+11 ) 2 Goals

Appearance data correct as of publishing date

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