Watford’s new midfield signing Carlos Sanchez says he is excited to help the club in its bid to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The 88-cap Colombian international has signed for the Hornets until the end of the season having been without a club since June.

The former Aston Villa and West Ham man told the club website: “I'm very excited to be here. This is a very good chance for me and I can't wait to start and do my best for the team. I want to play, I want to make a good start and I am excited to give all I have for the club. I have one objective and that's to help the team with their objective.”

The 35-year-old deep-lying midfield said he was impressed with the teams 2-0 win against Wycombe Wanderers on Wednesday night, which he watched from the stands.

“I watched the last game and I really liked it,” he said. “We have a nice team, good quality players and I am really impressed. We played very well and we have a good idea – and this is very important. I am very happy and excited.”

Known back home in Colombia as “La Roca” (the rock) Sanchez has previously played for the likes of Espanyol and Fiorentina.

After being released by West Ham last summer, the veteran midfield kept up his training regime in hopes of finding a new team.

“I never stopped training,” he said. “When I left West Ham, I go with my family to Spain and I train on my own. I have kept fit and I was looking for a chance like this. When the club called me, I said 'yes, of course'. I'm fit and I want to be involved. I am a guy who never gives up. I know what the team needs and so I want to show what I can do. I have experience, I have qualities and I want to bring them here and help the team to get its objective.”

He joins Watford who currently sit in third place, level on points with second place Brentford.

The midfielder says he is ready to contribute right away, helped by the fact he has played with and against some of the squad before.

“I know a few lads from the past” he said. “It's like I have been here before because everyone was very kind with me and I talked with everyone. That's very important when you arrive at a new club. It's like I've been here for one year. I had some good battles before with Tom Cleverley and I know Marc Navarro from Espanyol. We made a very good friendship there. He has been very kind and welcomed me. I was also happy to see Jeremy [Ngakia]. I trained a lot with him at West Ham. He is young and started to play in the first team there. I am happy to be here with him.”