THETONY REWARD
Hitman Watt is cruising at top of the scoring charts, heading for new gig at Tannadice and loving life as the hard work finally pays off
TONY WATT is having the time of his life.
He’s leading the line at Motherwell and leading the Premiership scoring charts as the top flight puts its feet up for the winter break.
Watt will leave Motherwell for Tayside in the summer unless United can strike a deal to get him to Tannadice next month.
While Kyogo Furuhashi and Alfredo Morelos grab more of the headlines and certainly are provided with more chances, neither the Japanese nor the Colombian can match the nine goals grabbed by Watt for the Fir Park outfit in the league.
He is currently one in front of the Old Firm duo and Aberdeen’s Christian Ramirez but Watt’s form will feel bittersweet for Motherwell after he signed a pre-contract agreement with Dundee United.
Watt is just delighted to have finally found the consistency to match the ability that has taken him on a nomadic career through Belgium with Lierse and Standard Liege, England at Charlton and Blackburn, a stint in Wales with Cardiff and a spell in CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria.
Add that to seasons with Hearts and St Johnstone, and it’s plain to see why he gained a reputation as a drifter who didn’t fulfil the potential that saw him burst onto the scene as a teenager with THAT goal against Barcelona for Celtic in 2012.
Watt said: “I’m playing well, my overall performances I am happy with and I am pleased with my numbers.
“I just want to keep going and building on that.
“We are fourth in the table and if we hadn’t had a few bad results we could be even higher. Against
St Mirren earlier in the season we could have had all three points and against Dundee United at Tannadice, I scored a penalty and we could have got a point. We aren’t far away.
“I want to get 15 to 20 goals and have the best season of my career. Hopefully people will realise it’s not a fluke and I am a good player.
“Since joining the club I have been doing well and I want the numbers to tell the story.”
Watt’s performances have caught the eye of Scotland head coach Steve Clarke, who watched him against St Johnstone earlier this month.
A continuation of his form over the past two seasons could yet see him add to his single cap against the Czech Republic almost six years ago.
He’d love to add to that tally but knows he has to maintain his club form, whether that be at Fir Park or Tannadice in the coming months.
Watt said: “I got 16 goal contributions last season which isn’t too bad based on where we were in the league.
“My performances were good and I was happy and I have tried to build on that this year.
“Hopefully I can continue to do well, keep my overall performances up but add the goals as well.
“I am 27 and I want to play as long as I can and get as many goals as I can.”
Although that looks increasingly likely to be in Dundee United colours Watt, speaking earlier in the season, insisted he and Motherwell have been great for each other.
He said: “They look after me,
they push me to be a better person and a better player. My morals and mindset align with the club’s.
“I’ve been here two years and that’s probably the longest I’ve been at a club.
“It’s a club close to my heart and I can’t thank them enough.
“I’ve been to places because, financially, it was good, but now, at 27, with my contract up at the end of the season, I know the next one has to be right for me and my family.
“Money is obviously part and parcel of football. I need to retire eventually and I’m not going to be in the best of jobs afterwards unless it’s in football. My next deal needs to be where I am happy.”
Motherwell seem resigned to losing their top scorer.
Speaking at the weekend, No.2 Chris Lucketti said: “There is a likelihood he could leave in January but we’ll keep working until we hear differently.
“We spoke to Tony and his state of mind was fine.
“It’s hard to say if any money we get will be used to strengthen the team, but we’re ready to move if it happens.”