Frank Lampard senior was talent spotting for Watford last night within hours of joining as the Championship strugglers prepare to delve into the bargain basement for loan signings.

Cash-strapped Watford are relying on Lampard and new manager Brendan Rodgers' knowledge of youth players at Premier League clubs to steer them clear of relegation.

Lampard, father of the England and Chelsea midfielder, has been made consultant at Vicarage Road and his first assignment was last night's reserve match between Tottenham and Stoke.

Lampard was appointed by Rodgers, who himself was recommended to the Watford board by former Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho.

Rodgers, 35, was made youth-team and then reserve-team coach at Chelsea by Mourinho and turned down a role at the Portuguese's new club Inter Milan as he preferred to wait for his chance to come in England.

That opportunity has now arrived at Watford, who face Bristol City tonight, and Lampard is confident the two of them can lift the club up from 21st in the table.

Lampard said: "I've got to know Brendan while he was at Chelsea and he's a good man. About eight months ago he asked me if I would put on about a dozen training sessions with the reserves at Chelsea and I was happy to oblige. It went well then and now he's asked me to come in and help him at Watford.

"I will be helping him in any way I can, with individual coaching, looking at the opposition and running the rule over potential signings. We need to get a few in quickly and we will be looking carefully at the loan market."

Watford chairman Graham Simpson has come in for some criticism from some supporters following Aidy Boothroyd's departure and the appointment of the largely unknown Rodgers has surprised some.

However, little was also known about Boothroyd when he joined in March 2005 after a stint as first-team coach at Leeds and the Yorkshireman steered the club to safety before winning promotion to the Premier League the following year.Simpson said: "We haven't set Brendan any targets. I think that is the worst thing you can do. Instead I have sat and listened to his philosophy on the game and I liked what I heard.

"I don't think you need to say things about making sure we stay up. That's obvious, and we just know we will do that. At Watford we want to play our football on the ground and develop talent within the club. He has worked at Chelsea with their youngsters and we find that exciting. We want to build an ethos and culture here and carry on from where Aidy Boothroyd left off."

Malky Mackay, who took over as caretaker, will be retained as part of the coaching staff working under Rodgers and will be in charge tonight.

Mackay is expected to include midfielder Lee Williamson, who turned in a superb performance last weekend and scored in the 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Williamson is relishing his opportunity in the first team and looking to impress his new manager.

He said: "I've scored three goals in the last four matches and that's something I needed to add to my game. I have also been given more freedom to get on the ball and create things. There's a lot of talent in this squad."