Watford's first £1million player Heidar Helguson made an immediate impact on his debut for the Hornets with a goal in last Saturday's 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool.

The Icelandic international was signed from Lillestrom in Norway in a £1.5 million deal and Taylor is hoping he can fulfil his potential.

Helguson, 22, scored 16 goals in 21 games as Lillestrom finished fourth in the Norwegian league and Taylor, who had been tracking the striker since June, made his move before the price went up.

Taylor said: "This isn't a case of me saying 'Crikey, we're second bottom and Lillestrom have a player they're willing to let go for £1.5million'.

"I've been keeping an eye on him but I know people will see him as our potential saviour."

The Hornets boss wanted to bring him to England earlier but Lillestrom, who had just sold Runar Normann to Coventry, were reluctant to sell as they chased the title.

Helguson reacted quickly to a free-kick just after half-time against the Reds to nod his first goal for the Hornets and City will have to keep a close eye on the Icelandic star.

Taylor said: "Heidar is very good in the air, very pacy, and he is prepared to run behind defenders and he's not frightened to get into the penalty box.

"When I first started in management, in 1972, I never thought I would be spending £1.5million and saying this player has potential.

"We hadn't even thought about £1million players in 1972 and we might spend £5,000 on a player with potential.

"For Watford, it's £550,000 more than we've spent on any player but we're signing a player with potential.

"It's my job to help Heidar realise his potential and I'm confident he has it in him."

Helguson's arrival will strengthen a front line that, despite the signing of Nordin Wooter for a previous record £950,000 and the recruitment of former French international Xavier Gravelaine, has managed just 19 goals this season and struggled to trouble Premiership defences.

Helguson's arrival took Taylor's Premiership spending beyond £3million. He has already splashed out on Gravelaine, Wooter, Charlie Miller and Neil Cox since the start of the season.

Taylor has only topped the Helguson deal once before in his long career when, as Wolves boss, he paid Bradford City £1.8million for Dean Richards.

Watford go into tomorrow's crucial clash with the Bantams knowing that victory is paramount for both sides as the fight to avoid relegation hots up.

City will be buoyed by the fact that the Hornets have not kept a clean sheet since they beat Chelsea at Vicarage Road in September.

Captain Robert Page says team spirit has a big role to play between now and the end of the season.

He said: "Of course it's not easy whenever we lose a game.

"If someone was to walk off the pitch happy with a loss then they would be out of order. But we can't sit back and grumble about it because we'll fall by the wayside.

"I have said all season that someone is not going to jump out of the crowd and say, 'This is what you are doing wrong,' and everything will be OK. We've got to keep the spirit between the boys and hopefully things will be OK for us."

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