Watt convinced that he can still take his ‘revival’ to another level
IF the form of his first five games for Hearts was good enough to warrant a Scotland place for Tony Watt, then the surprise late call-up augurs well for the striker’s prospects of a stellar season. That’s because Watt can reveal, to those struck by his displays since returning to Scotland but without any great perception into his performances in the English game, that there is much better to come.
The 22-year-old notes the praise received for an impressive beginning to his loan spell at Tynecastle yet remains puzzled to hear talk of a career suddenly back on track by virtue of this work.
Watt says that Charlton, then Cardiff and Blackburn on loan last season, were beneficiaries of finer play from him in the Championship throughout the previous year and a half.
Watt explained: ‘I’ve heard people say now: “He’s doing well, he’s turned a corner”. But I’m not playing as well as I did over the last 18 months. I played better last season than I’ve played in the first few games for Hearts.
‘But people didn’t recognise that because it was down in England. I know there’s another level to come from me, so I’m not worried.’
The Scotland management team did take sufficient notice last season, during which he scored seven times for those three clubs, because they were content to hand Watt his first senior international cap.
A late substitute in the 1-0 friendly win over Czech Republic in March, the former Celtic striker’s recognition was his first by Gordon Strachan since he was brought into the squad for a World Cup qualifier against Croatia at the end of 2012/13.
Watt, favoured over £12million Ross McCormack by Strachan last week, was regarded that summer as one of the hottest teenage talents in Scotland on account of a breakthrough campaign under Neil Lennon and decisive goal in a Champions League victory over Barcelona.
Three years, two Belgian club stints, a litany of unflattering reviews from coaches and colleagues over his attitude and fitness later, Watt has been granted further scope to persuade Strachan that the application now matches the talent and he can be trusted for Scotland.
‘The gaffer put me in the squad earlier in the year and I must have left something in his head if he’s called me up again,’ said Watt. ‘I didn’t feel out of my depth when I was involved before. I was taking the ball and doing what
HEART OF THE MATTER:
Watt has made a bright start to the season I can do. If I thought I was out of my depth, there would be no point in me turning up. ‘But I genuinely thought this squad might have come too early for me. When I wasn’t named in the original squad, I wasn’t gutted. But I’m delighted to be in now. I want to show people that I can do it.’ Certainly, there has been no slacking from Watt in his committed and hard-working efforts for Robbie Neilson’s Hearts side on match days. All that was missing before last weekend, according to his head coach, was a goal and that duly arrived in the form of a dramatic late winner at Partick Thistle. Watt had revealed on the day of his unveiling as a yearlong loan capture for Hearts that he chose a return to Scotland in order to be nearer his family. Home comforts, so far, appear to have had an uplifting impact. He said: ‘I just wanted to come up the road, be happy, close to my family, play and win games. I have never once doubted the decision. I had opportunities in the English Championship and, if I’d waited, there would have been more.
‘But I wanted to go to Hearts for a year and see where it takes me. I wanted stability for me and my girlfriend and I came back up here because I wanted to be in familiar surroundings again.
‘As long as I can keep mentally right and mentally happy, then I’ll be fine.
‘Playing football is great but you can’t give 100 per cent on the pitch if you are not 100 per cent right in your head. So it’s about getting better now. I feel I’ve been playing well but people mark strikers by the goals they score so it was good to add a goal.
‘But the way we play at Hearts, we’re not a selfish team. I’ve been playing a bit deeper but I like scoring goals and hopefully I can manage to do both this season. It’s about everybody playing their part at Hearts.
‘We’ve a good squad and can be up at the top end of the league. It can be a good year for everyone at the club. I’m at a club where the manager trusts young players and I’m still young. We have good foundations to build on.’