Accrington Stanley have signed striker Ryan Cassidy on a season-long loan from Watford.
The Republic of Ireland Under 19 international, who turned 19 in March, will spend his first spell away from Vicarage Road at the Wham Stadium.
Cassidy joined the Hornets aged 16 from St Kevin’s Boys, he has been prolific at Under 18 and Under 23 level for the Hornets and has just signed a new two-year deal at Watford.
The Dubliner captained the Watford youth side last year to the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup, scoring seven times in four games, before they were knocked out by Liverpool.
“Ryan is a really good prospect,” said Stanley manager John Coleman.
“We have seen him play, he looks like a natural goalscorer, our type of player, and hopefully someone who will come in and give us a bit of quality in and around the box.
“With myself and Jimmy being former strikers, we can develop him further, add value to him and hopefully it’s a win-win situation and Watford get a better player when he goes back and we get the service off him.
“We have done our homework on him, he ticks the boxes for us and he is the type of player we need. Players like him thrive when they come to Accrington so hopefully he will be the next one on the long list.”
“This was the year I had to step up and go out of my comfort zone and Accrington accepted me,” said Cassidy.
“I am so excited, to play men’s football is different for me and it’s a challenge I am looking forward to.”
Cassidy is Stanley’s second summer signing after Cameron Burgess.