Steve Davis believes Premiership new boys Watford can be Burnley's inspiration.

The Hornets' 3-0 play-off final win over Leeds at the Millennium Stadium yesterday marks a remarkable turnaround in the Vicarage Road side's fortunes over the last couple of years.

After finishing 18th at the end of the 2004/05 season, manager Aidy Boothroyd took Watford to third place in the Championship on a shoestring budget.

And after a fabulous showing in Cardiff, earned the right to play against the cream of English football and benefit from a £40million windfall for playing in the top flight.

And Davis, Burnley's first team coach, says the Hornets' achievements can act as an inspiration to the rest of the Championship when the action gets underway in August.

He said: "I think it gives everybody in the Championship hope. It's a fantastic achievement. Aidy Boothroyd's done an unbelievable job there. At the start of the season, nobody would have put any money on Watford even being in the play-offs, never mind going up, so they've done really well and it does give everyone hope.

"It's a big, strong league next year with the quality of the clubs that have come down.

"It seems to be getting stronger every year but that's the challenge and if you can get into the play-offs then it's down to whoever performs on the day.

"There's so many ex-Premiership clubs in the Championship now.

The Championship is becoming Premiership 2 with the quality of the clubs that are in there and that's who you want to pit your wits against. Certainly Steve Cotterill will want to do that and see if we can come out on top."

Clarets teenage striker Kyle Lafferty won his first senior international cap when he played for Northern Ireland in their 1-0 defeat against Uruguay at Giants Stadium, New Jersey, yesterday.

Lafferty played the last 15 minutes of the game, which was settled by a Fabian Estoyanoff goal in the 33rd minute.

Striker Steve Jones and defender Michael Duff also played against the South Americans.