Martin Taylor believes Malky Mackay’s contract extension is “fantastic” news for the fans and is “reassuring” for the players.

Mackay and his assistant manager Sean Dyche both signed new three-and-a-half-year deals at Watford on Friday and with the Hornets boss increasingly being linked with vacant managers’ jobs, Taylor is pleased the pair have been tied down to longer contracts.

The centre-half said: “It is great for the club. A couple of months ago there was a bit of talk in the media about certain things and you don’t know what is happening.

“So it is reassuring for the players, for the fans and for the club that the staff have put pen to paper because they have been great this season.

“They have great ideas. Since I have been here, I have been really impressed with everything to do with the club.

“It is fantastic if you are a fan of the club, it is great news.”

The news of Mackay’s contract extension came just a day after it was revealed Stephen McGinn’s season was over due to a knee ligament injury, which is likely to keep him out for around nine to 12 months.

Taylor has praised McGinn’s attitude though, and backed the former St Mirren midfielder to make a full recovery.

The centre-back said: “It was a little bit of a shock when we came in the day after and the word spread around the training ground that it was a really serious injury.

“Everyone is going to get around him and make sure Stevie gets through it. He just loves to play and he loves the game so to be out of the game for that long is going to affect him.

“But as a group of players, we are tight knit and we are going to help him through it.

“He is a great lad, everyone likes him and he has been a great player this season, so we will miss him on the pitch.

“He has a lot of dedication and that is one thing you need when you have a long-term injury at his age, so I am sure he will be back sooner rather than later.”

Taylor has missed just two games since making his Watford debut in February last year and in recent months has become the Hornets’ ‘Mr Consistent’ with a string of almost faultless displays.

The 31-year-old had not played a competitive game since May 2009 prior to joining Watford on a free transfer in January 2010 and is now reaping the benefits of playing regularly.

Taylor said: “I think if you are in and out of the team then you cannot get a rhythm going, you are not fully match fit when you miss a few games and then have to come in.

“So it definitely helps when you are playing week in, week out. I have done that this season and I am happy with how it has been going at the moment.

“I will always be critical of myself after games and always think I can do better, that is what you have to do as a player – look to improve.

“But I am happy with how it has gone this season and I am looking forward to the remaining games.”

The performances of Taylor and his centre-back partner Adrian Mariappa have been crucial for Watford, particularly since Lloyd Doyley’s injury and Andrew Taylor returning to Middlesbrough at the beginning of January.

First-year professional Lee Hodson and second-year scholar Adam Thompson have been regular starters for the Hornets recently and ‘Tiny’ praised the young full-backs for the way they have performed in a side which had been struggling for results.

“You have to keep them going,” Taylor said. “A lot of it is about keeping them concentrating. Concentration is a big part of the game when you are a young lad and it is about trying to find consistency with that.

“I try and give them a few pointers and give them a few shouts. I remember when I was a young lad I got shouted at by the older pros and it keeps you on your toes.”

“It shows the quality that we have got in the youth team,” Taylor continued.

“They have had a great run in the FA Youth Cup again this year and it looks like there are some really good players in there who look like they will be around the squad for the next few years.

“It is a huge positive for the club."