Watford youngster is set to make a loan move to Scotland

Watford Academy products Jack Grieves will continue his professional development with a loan move north of the border.

According to the Watford Observer, the 19-year-old, who was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 pre-season friendly defeat at Gillingham, is set to join Scottish Premiership side Ross County on loan for the season.

The versatile Watford-born forward, who can also play midfield, scored the only goal in Watford’s first public appearance of the summer, a 1-0 win over Boreham Wood.

Grieves was a regular traveller with the squad last season, making his first senior start in the Hornets’ final home game, a 1-0 win over Sunderland, before coming off the bench in the season-ending 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough.

Tom Cleverley had previously stated that the player was unfortunate not to have received more first-team minutes because his work in training had been impressive.

“Grievesy has been training fantastically well since I’ve come in, and he trains with real intensity,” the head coach said after the win over Sunderland.

The teenager, who is the fourth generation in his family to play for Watford and the great-great-grandson of the legendary Reginald ‘Skilly’ Williams, will now look to gain first-team experience with the Dingwall-based club, which is managed by former Hornets winger Don Cowie.

Grieves will not be the first Watford player to spend a season at the club near Inverness.

Joseph Hungbo, who is currently on loan at Rotherham United, scored seven goals in 33 league appearances for County in 2021/22.