Rob Edwards believes Watford have signed a striker with quality and knowledge of what it takes to achieve promotion following the acquisition of Keinan Davis.

The 24-year-old has moved to Vicarage Road on a season-long loan from Aston Villa in a deal which will be made permanent if the Hornets bounce back to the Premier League, the Watford Observer understands.

Davis could make his debut in the blue half of Birmingham tomorrow night at St Andrew’s, although Edwards has suggested the Stevenage-born forward may not be fully unleashed immediately.

Asked how Watford’s newest recruit was settling in, the head coach said: “He’s a really good guy. He’s had three good days training now. He has had a pre-season but a lot of his work has been individual work, so he’s someone that we’ll probably still have to bring up to speed.

“We want to be able to introduce him quickly but at the same time we’ve got to make sure we manage it right.

“What he does bring is a lot of quality. He’s someone that can get hold of the ball and bring others into the game, but he can also get hold of the ball, turn and drive away from someone as well. And he can drop in and bring other people into the game, he’s got the quality to make a good pass, so he brings a lot with him.”

Davis scored five goals in 15 Championship appearances last season to help Nottingham Forest to play-off glory and Edwards continued: “He brings know how. He was involved in a successful team last season that got promoted, so he’s been there and done it very recently.”

The Watford head coach also has no doubt Davis has the qualities to be able to perform in whichever formation the team is set up in.

Edwards said: “He can be equally effective on his own and bringing people into the game, whether that’s wider forwards running beyond him if he was dropping deeper, or with attacking midfielders that’s he’s able to bring into the game and get into the box, or he’s good enough to play with a partner. If we want to play with two up we’ve got more than enough to do that and he’s intelligent enough to play in a partnership.”