Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has revealed he failed in an attempt to sign Birmingham forward Gary McSheffrey last month.

Boothroyd was keen to beef up his attacking options in the January transfer window and tried to bring the former Coventry man to Vicarage Road on loan with a view to a permanent transfer but was rebuffed.

"I tried to get Gary in the window but Birmingham needed him and still need him," Boothroyd told the Watford Observer.

"I enquired about getting him on loan and then doing a deal at the end of the season."