Matt Langston is hoping a spell on loan can secure his long-term future with Watford.

The Brighton-born defender is halfway through his fourth season as a professional at Watford but he has yet to break into the first team.

His contract is up for renewal at the end of the season and Langston knows he has plenty of work to do to secure another deal.

A succession of injuries have hampered his progress, with a back problem having effectively ruled him out from February until October.

However, the 21-year-old has been in good form in the Barclaycard Premiership Reserve League since returning to fitness and he is now impressing in a loan spell at Aldershot Town.

The former Lewes Priory schoolboy acknowledges the next few months are crucial to his career.

He said: "I am not in the first team squad that often and with the financial situation here it will be difficult for everyone.

"There are 19 players out of contract in the summer and we have ben told we have got to wait until after Christmas. It is an important year for me.

"I am happy at Watford. I bought a place in February here and my partner gave birth to a baby boy, George, six weeks ago.

"If I have to move on I will but I am happy here."

Langston is currently halfway through a loan spell with Ryman League premier division leaders Aldershot and he has already made a big impact.

He scored the only goal of the game just five minutes into his debut as Aldershot beat Purfleet 1-0 earlier this month and he followed that by playing his part in a cleansheet as the Shots won their next game 1-0 against Hitchen Town, with former Albion striker Stafford Browne getting the only goal.

Langston said: "I had heard Aldershot were after a centre half. They came and watched me in a reserve game with Arsenal and then a friendly with Tottenham at the training ground. Their manager Terry Brown liked the look of me and things happened from there.

"Because I haven't played any first team competitive football at Watford, they thought it would be good for me to go out on loan.

"Aldershot are going places. They have good financial backing and they are looking to go full time if they go up next year.

"When I made my debut, there were 2,000 people. I looked in the papers and there were only two bigger gates in the Conference. It has been good so far and there are a good bunch of players."

Langston is one of four Sussex players currently in the Aldershot team, the others being Browne, former Horsham striker Jamie Taylor and Hastings-born goalkeeper Nikki Bull, who joined the Shots from QPR.

As a youngster, Langston had to contend with a lack of interest from Albion and Sussex Schools.

He said: "It was only when Watford became interested in me that Sussex Schools wanted me to play for them.

"I never head anything from Brighton but I suppose I had already signed for Watford before they had a chance.

"I scored in a friendly with Brighton reserves at the training ground recently which was nice."

Since joining Watford 6ft.2in Langston has suffered a fractured knee cap and endured a cartilage operation but hopes he is now over those problems.

He has played for the first team in pre-season friendlies but has not played in a competitive match despite some good performances for the reserves.

He said: "I have been doing all right. Watford are up to fifth (in the reserve league) and I have scored a few goals.

"You play against some good players in the Premier Reserve League. We played Arsenal recently and they had the likes of Kolo Toure and Martin Keown playing for them. There was actually a picture of me with Martin Keown on the back page of the Evening Standard."