David’s on the right road to Hampden
Watson’s been in stand and on the bench.. now he wants to get on the hallowed turf
DAVID WATSON has been in the stand at Hampden cheering – now the talented teen is desperate to be on the surface contributing.
The 19-year-old was part of Kilmarnock’s matchday squad for last season’s Viaplay Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic but didn’t make the bench.
And he is yet to fulfil his boyhood ambition of showing what he can do with a ball at his feet at the National Stadium.
Help Killie dump Aberdeen this lunchtime and he will get that chance in a semi-final.
Watson said: “I’ve never played at Hampden.
“I was in the squad for the semi-final last season but I didn’t make the bench.
“Hopefully this season we can go to Hampden and I’ll get to play there. I’ve been to watch Scotland games at Hampden.
“It’s the National Stadium and every young Scottish kid dreams of playing at Hampden, so hopefully I can do it.
“It would be amazing. That’s what you dream of – taking your family to Hampden and lifting a trophy, having a great day out with all the fans.
“Hopefully we can do it.” He had yet to make his top-flight debut when involved in Killie’s squad for the semi-final with Celtic in November 2022.
So even if he was not named on the bench, it was still an experience that only serves to fuel the midfielder’s desire to go one step further.
He said: “I was only 17 so I wasn’t really too disappointed as I hadn’t played a proper game in the Premiership and I didn’t expect to. But it was a great experience to travel with the squad. It was against Celtic so everyone was excited.
“Everyone was buzzing and hopefully we can create that feeling again if we get to Hampden.”
Killie have dumped the Dons three times in the league this season, with Watson burying a spectacular 92nd-minute finish in December.
The youngster showcased his quality as he pulled down a cross with his back to goal, spun and cracked in a shot worthy of winning any game.
Watson is just starting out in his career but reckons it will be tough to top that goal, albeit that won’t stop him trying.
He added: “It would be nice to do something similar but I don’t know if I’ll ever do that again.
“It was a good finish. I’ll try to top it but it was great feeling to score there.
“Hopefully going there this time, we can come away with the win and go to Hampden. I’ve been trying to add to my game, to go forward a bit more.
“I was known for winning tackles and playing short passes. But now I’m trying to add a more attacking side to my game, play a bit higher up and get a few more goals.”
Boss Derek McInnes believes his side, sitting fifth in the league, have what it takes to lift the Scottish Cup.
Watson agrees and reckons his gaffer will be in the running for the Manager of the Year gong, given the progress made.
Asked if McInnes is in with a chance for that accolade, Watson said: “Especially with where we’ve come from. We were in the Championship a couple of years ago.
“Last year we managed to stay away from relegation, now he has built the squad and we’ve been on a good run.
“The only team who have beaten us recently are Rangers. Hopefully we can go as high as we can. The gaffer said our aim is to win a trophy at this club and get top six this season.
“So I don’t see why we can’t. You look at the number of times the gaffer has been at Hampden and he has won a few trophies.
“That filters into the squad and gives us confidence. We know we can play for him and get to Hampden.”
The League Cup in 2012 – when Dieter van Tornhout clinched a 1-0 success over Celtic – still goes down as Killie’s last major honour.
Watson said: “I was only seven at the time so I don’t remember too much about it – apart from us scoring a last-minute header.”
It would be nice but I don’t know if I’ll ever do that again
DAVID WATSON ON REPLICATING HIS PITTODRIE PILEDRIVER