West Ham United have loaned defender Calum Davenport to Watford for a month with the option for a permanent transfer.
The 25-year-old defender moved to the Boleyn Ground a year ago yesterday but has found chances limited due to the good form of others and injury. He made six appearances in last season's run-in and then had to have treatment on a hernia problem. Fit again, he played for the reserves on 7 January but was always going to have a difficult battle to displace the likes of Matthew Upson and Anton Ferdinand.
West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley said: "Calum hasn't played any competitive football for the club since March. He needed to go and get some first-team football so when the opportunity at Watford arose it seemed like the perfect scenario for all parties." The manager admitted he was "blessed" with central defenders, with James Collins and Danny Gabbidon, plus youth prospect James Tomkins, waiting in the wings.
Davenport first came to prominence after coming through the ranks at Coventry City before Tottenham Hotspur swooped to sign him in August 2004. He then had a ten-game spell on loan that season at West Ham United before further temporary stays at Southampton and Norwich City. The former England Under-21 international then returned to Tottenham ahead of his switch to east London 12 months ago. Watford are third in the Championship, three points off first place.