Gillingham have signed attacking midfielder Connor Smith on loan from Championship club Watford until the end of the season.

The Republic of Ireland under-21 international is set to go straight into boss Peter Taylor's squad for the League 1 game at Colchester on Saturday.

Smith was spotted on Sky programme Football's Next Star and was picked up by Watford's academy

He scored against Gills in a 3-0 pre-season friendly victory before being handed his league debut by former Hornets boss Gianfranco Zola in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace in August 2012.

The 20-year-old has played eight times for Watford, including five appearances this season.