THE Duke has joined the King at Watford and is looking to get off to a majestic start against for his new club against Ipswich tomorrow.Nathan Ellington, nicknamed the Duke after the legendary jazz musician, will make his debut for the Hornets when the Blues visit Vicarage Road - and he has stung them many times in the past.

By Derek Davis

THE Duke has joined the King at Watford and is looking to get off to a majestic start against for his new club against Ipswich tomorrow.

Nathan Ellington, nicknamed the Duke after the legendary jazz musician, will make his debut for the Hornets when the Blues visit Vicarage Road - and he has stung them many times in the past.

The most painful was when he played for Wigan in March, 2005, and helped knock Town off the top of the Championship table and start the demise which led to them slipping out of the automatic top two. Wigan replaced them that day and went on to win promotion as Joe Royle's side lost in the play-offs.

Ellington, who started out at non-league Walton & Hersham, also found the net the previous year in a 3-1 Wigan win and the year before that in another 1-0 Athletic victory.

Although he didn't get on the scoresheet for West Brom last season he did play the final three minutes of a 5-1 Baggies win.

It was the lack of action at the Hawthorns that prompted him to slap in a transfer request last January and Watford have always been his keenest suitors.

Aidy Boothroyd finally landed his man on Wednesday night, happily paying a club record £3.25million and handing the 26-year-old a four-year deal.

Understandably Ellington wants to make a great first impression to Watford fans and promised them 'spectacular goals'.

He added: “You will see me here there and everywhere. I have got a bit of everything, a lot of variety and I hope the fans enjoy watching me.

“I'm looking forward to playing up front with Marlon King and Darius Henderson. I have heard good things about both.”

Henderson has been struggling with a knee injury, and sulking somewhat after a move to Fulham fell through, but should be in the squad tomorrow unless he gets a late switch.

Ellington will hope to get his partnership off to a good start with King, who has never been on the losing side against Ipswich with Gillingham, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and now Watford. But then he has never scored against them either.

Boothroyd made it clear he plans to play Ellington against Ipswich and is expecting big things from the club's record transfer.

He said: “I want him involved playing straight away because there is not much point paying out this much money and not playing him.

“Nathan is a really exciting player. He can score all types of goals and he could prove to be really potent for us.

“He fits our culture perfectly in that he is a player with plenty to give and a lot more to come. He may have lost his way in recent years but he is absolutely proven at this level.”

There won't be much relief for Town if a substitution is made as Steve Kabba has also hurt Town in the past, and no more so than when he netted a couple for Grimsby which was the final nail in George Burley's coffin.

derek.davis@archant.co.uk