Stan Collymore launched the new play-as-you-earn phase of his turbulent career - and no-one could say he didn't deserve his first cheque as he helped Leicester to a 1-1 draw at Watford.

He tackled, he tracked back, he worked hard. He hit the crossbar with a looping second-half header of beautiful invention. He brought a last-ditch scrambling save from Watford goalkeeper Tim Flowers.

He even managed a beaming smile when he lost his boot in a second-half collision with a Watford defender.

Goals from Matt Elliott for Leicester and Nordin Wooter for Watford settled the game but Collymore certainly did enough in the full 90 minutes to convince Leicester manager Martin O'Neill that he has done a shrewd piece of transfer business.

Not bad for a so-called sullen, tempestuous rebel who was making his first appearance in the Premiership for almost a year.

There will be much more testing afternoons than this routine run-out at Vicarage Road but as resurrections go this was as pleasing as it gets. Why, Stan The Man could almost have been wearing a halo.

Considering Collymore had spent much of the last 11 months in the Aston Villa reserves, or in the first division with Fulham or in a clinic being treated for clinical depression, his performance bordered on the brilliant.

With Wembley in mind, O'Neill had taken the safety option of excluding Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Robbie Savage and Gerry Taggart - all of whom were just one yellow card away from a suspension.

It robbed the Leicester midfield of much if its bite but allowed an intriguing striking trio of Collymore along with 34-year-old Tony Cottee and Emile Heskey.

Collymore had the first shot of the match - a scuffed effort which brought predictable boos from the home crowd. He also had the second - this time showing the ring rust still clinging to his boots as he sent a shot wildly over the bar.

But the message was clear - Stan was a man on a mission.

And while Watford's fans inevitably castigated O'Neill's side with chants of 'Boring, boring' the game was anything but.

It was open and passionate, fluid and entertaining - yet always it seemed Leicester, with Collymore winning most of the aerial battles, had the edge in quality.

Watford's Allan Smart could have had a hat-trick in the space of four frantic first-half minutes but each time he shot just too high or straight into the arms of goalkeeper Tim Flowers.

Peter Kennedy and Nordin Wooter also went close from long-range. But when Leicester, more precise and penetrative and who had gone close through Heskey and Cottee, took the lead it was no surprise even though there was an element of fortune.

Watford defender Steve Palmer's attempted clearance was deflected onto the bar. Then the alert Cottee flicked the ball across goal and there was Matt Elliott to bundle the ball home.

The big defender ended up in the net along with the ball. It was scrappy and untidy but it was also a typical piece of poaching from the selfless defender who has doubled up as a makeshift attacker for much of the past two months.

Many rock-bottom side may have folded there and then but that is not a trait synonymous with Graham Taylor teams.

And the equaliser came just two minutes after the restart. It stemmed from a wild Steve Walsh foul on Wooter, for which the Leicester man was booked.

Kennedy swept over the free-kick and it was met with a glancing header by Wooter, and though it was eventually helped into the net by the despairing Walsh the goal was claimed by Watford's star man.

It was no more than Watford deserved as they surged forward in great yellow waves.

Just as it seemed Leicester would be submerged up leapt 'Stan the Man' again to reaffirm his danger.

Heskey provided the cross from the right in the 64th minute and Collymore leapt to send a looping header over goalkeeper Day and against the Watford crossbar.

Five minutes later Collymore swooped again, latching on to a Stefan Oakes cross and bringing a fine save from the Watford goalkeeper.

In truth, the victory could have gone either way as both sides battled frantically for the three points.

But in the end it was probably a fair result - and one which will have pleased O'Neill far more than Taylor, whose Watford side are looking increasingly doomed.

And while Collymore looked drained by the final whistle the smile on O'Neill's face said it all.

He may be ineligible for the big Wembley day out in two weeks time but Stan the Man proved he can still do the business in the big time.

Teams:

Watford: Day, Williams, Palmer, Page, Gibbs, Hyde, Bonnot, Kennedy (Robinson 84), Smart, Helguson (Ngonge 84), Wooter.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Smith, Miller.

Booked: Helguson, Bonnot.

Goals: Wooter 47.

Leicester: Flowers, Walsh, Gilchrist, Elliott, Impey, Eadie, Oakes, Zagorakis, Collymore, Heskey, Cottee.

Subs Not Used: Gunnlaugsson, Campbell, Fenton, Arphexad, Goodwin.

Booked: Walsh.

Goals: Elliott 39.

Att: 16,814

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).