Aston Villa boss Dean Smith admits he's long been a fan of Watford captain Troy Deeney.

Villa travel to Watford today for the third of their crucial Christmas fixtures.

Smith worked with Watford skipper Deeney when the pair were at Walsall and he said: "The biggest compliment I can give him was his attitude was exemplary when I saw him at Walsall.

"He wanted to work hard, lead the line, to be followed by the others and it looks like he's become that leader at Watford.

"He's been there an awful long time and when you've been somewhere that amount of time, you've got to be doing something right.

"He's a good guy, I still keep in touch with him. I saw that second goal against Man United and he's had a really great career."