Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Prolific hitman is just Watt Utd need right now
TONY Watt is bound for Dundee United.
The only question is: when? The in-form Motherwell marksman is understood to have agreed a pre-contract with the Tannadice outfit as United seek to finally fill the boots of Lawrence Shankland.
United are pursuing a deal to bring Watt to Tayside next month, adding much needed firepower to a shot-shy attack.
Only rock-bottom St Johnstone (11) have scored fewer goals than United’s 16 in the Premiership this term. Ian Harkes and centreback Ryan Edwards are the club’s top scorers in the league with three apiece.
As such, Watt’s impending arrival has prompted much fanfare on Tannadice Street.
But how does he compare to the Premiership’s other marquee marksmen in a host of vital categories?
Tele Sport crunches the numbers.
PROLIFIC
Starting with the obvious, Watt is the top scorer in the Premiership this term with nine, one ahead of Rangers star Alfredo Morelos, Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and Christian Ramirez of Aberdeen.
The 28-year-old has the benefit of being a near automatic pick for the Steelmen, with only Ramirez and Martin Boyle playing more minutes among the seven most prolific attackers.
Nevertheless, Watt’s ratio of a goal every 177 minutes stands up to scrutiny, bettering Morelos, Ramirez and Boyle.
ACCURACY
Watt’s accuracy this term has been laudable.
Despite taking the joint thirdfewest shots among the topflight’s Magnificent Seven, his tally of 21 shots on target is only behind Morelos (23).
And the Colombian took 79 pops at goal to reach that number compared to Watt’s 36.
Watt’s instinctive ability to test the goalkeeper when given half a chance is exactly what United have been crying out for since the departure of arch-predator Shankland to Beerschot.
HOT STREAK
Watt is in the form of his life in terms of clinical finishing.
His xG (expected goals) — a measurement of the likelihood of a goal being scored from an opportunity – stands at 6.6 for the campaign, meaning he is outperforming expectations by 2.5.
Only his Motherwell team-mate Kevin van Veen is belying the stats to the same extent, with an xG difference of 2.8.
Watt’s conversion rate also stands at a remarkable 25%, with only Celtic striker Kyogo more deadly with a sight of goal.
Providing Dundee United can provide the Scotland international with the service he will require, it is patently clear that he has the form and ability to ripple the net with regularity.