Who, Watt, where why, when: Tigers midfielder rumour
HULL CITY LINKED WITH BRADFORD PLAYER
HULL City are being linked with a move for Elliot Watt from Bradford City this summer.
The Bantams midfielder has reportedly caught the eye of Grant Mccann with his performances in League Two this season, and City are now said to be interested in bringing him to the KCOM Stadium during the summer transfer window.
There’s plenty of time between now and the end of the season, but as yet City are the only side to have been linked with a move for the former Wolves academy star.
Here is what you need to know.
WHO IS ELLIOT WATT?: Watt is a 20-year-old midfielder who plays for Bradford City. Born in Preston, he had spells with Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers before joining his native North End in his younger years.
He was snapped up by Wolves in 2016, where he developed into one of the Black Country outfit’s brightest prospects.
WHERE DOES HE PLAY AND WHAT IS HIS STYLE?
Creativity is Watt’s main attribute – he operates mostly as a deep-lying playmaker and looks make opportunities for his forwards.
Standing at 5ft 9ins, Watt is an agile player who also possesses plenty of ability from set-pieces.
His form this season has gone somewhat under the radar, but he has quickly made himself a lynchpin for Bradford’s joint-managers, and City’s reported interest might well alert other clubs to his presence. WHAT HAS HE SAID? Describing himself as a player, Watt said: “I always like to get on the ball and make things happen, and mainly get the ball to the players who are going to score us goals. Creativity and leadership are my main qualities, and I’ll set the standards high.”
This season with Bradford he said: “I’m constantly trying to dictate the game. At time, teams do well to stop that by putting somebody on me or with the way they press.
“So, again, it’s about me learning how to deal with that and create myself one or two yards to be able to play one or two touch around them.
WHAT HAVE OTHERS SAID? ABOUT HIM?
After signing him for Bradford, former manager Stuart Mccall said: “Elliot is a young, up and coming player that I’ve kept tabs on for a while.
“I knew of him when he was at Preston as a kid, and then when he went to Wolves. I watched his under-23 game against Liverpool when they got beat 4-3 a few months back. He played in a role which I see him doing for us.
“He’s technically very good and again has a real desire to be a footballer."
Grant Mccann says it’s important Hull City do not focus too much on their perceived lack of goals at the KCOM Stadium this season.
Prior to Tuesday night’s comfortable 2-0 win over Rochdale, City had scored just 15 times on home soil this season, with just Blackpool and Northampton below them., with the 1-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town seeing them fail to hit the target.
Away from home, however, the tale has been a very different one for Mccann’s side with their 3-0 success at AFC Wimbledon last weekend taking their tally to an impressive 37 – a league best.
Despite the huge chasm of difference in goals scored home and away, City have won as many at home as they have away from home – nine – but’s it lack of a goal glut which has had supporters concerned ahead of the crucial run-in.
“We want to be good at home, of course we do,” said Mccann, whose side are fifth in League One for goals at home.
Next Tuesday’s opponents Peterborough have netted the most with 34, followed by Doncaster’s 30, Plymouth are next up on 27 and Crewe with 26 before City prop up the top five with 17 - the Tigers face trips to three of those four in their remaining games.
“I think we’re right up there in terms of home form – I know it doesn’t’ feel like that because we haven’t scored as frequently as we have away,” he said.
“In the main, if you look at the league, a lot of teams have found it difficult at home probably apart from Peterborough and Plymouth – maybe Plymouth because teams are driving seven hours to play them, but their away form is not great.
“We’ve got a split home and away record, we’ve won as many at home as we have away and maybe at times it probably doesn’t feel like that, but that’s where we are at the present time.”
Criticism has often come for City after some dour, lacklustre displays
HULL FC are close to finalising a deal that would see Joe Cator commit his long term future to the club.
The Mail understands the Black and Whites are in advanced talks with the back-rower and a deal is close to being completed to keep him at the KCOM Stadium beyond the end of the season.
Cator has exceeded expectations with his performances since joining the club from Leigh Centurions ahead of the 2020 campaign.
The forward not only nailed down his spot in the side, but rapidly became a fans’ favourite with his performances through the middle of the park, catching the eye enough for him to be crowned the club’s supporters’ player of the year.
As such, in an effort to reward him for his remarkable form last time around and tie down one of the brightest young talents in the Super League, FC have been proactive by initiating early contract discussions.
Those negotiations with Cator, who grew up as a supporter of the club, have progressed well and with a desire on both sides to see the deal sorted, he is understood to be close to putting pen to paper on what is thought to be a longterm contract.
The news won’t just be welcomed by FC fans, who will be looking forward to watching Cator’s progression over the coming years at the KCOM, but new head coach Brett Hodgson, too.
It seems Hodgson has taken to Cator over the first nine weeks of pre-season and recently took the opportunity to praise the 22-yearold’s hunger to improve, enthusiasm and attitude in training.
The youngster made 13 appearances for his hometown club last year and had a big say in the club’s play-off run as he scored his first try for FC in the remarkable November win over Warrington Wolves at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Cator is currently one of a host of players with contracts due to expire at the end of the season and it is thought the club have held early discussions with Jake Connor, too.