HORNET'S BEST

Cleverley promises to manage Watford just the same way he played... high energy aggressive and always on the front foot

- MIKE WALTERS

TOM CLEVERLEY stepped into the firing line at Watford admitting his reign as manager may be temporary, but promising to "attack it head-on".

The former England midfielder was the Hornets' surprise choice as interim boss when Valerien Ismael was sacked at the weekend.

He goes in at the deep end - with a critical game at Championship fellow strugglers Birmingham - as Watford's 12th head coach since 2019 after impressing the hierarchy with his work directing the Under-18s.

Fans took Cleverley (right) to their hearts when he scored on his debut as a 20-year-old on loan from Manchester United in 2009, and the love affair has remained mutual.

The Hornets could not afford United's £300,000 loan fee, but Sir Alex Ferguson told them to "give us what you can now and worry about the rest later".