Hartley delighted wanderer Watt showed he has staying power
PETER HARTLEY always loved that Fir Park provided a restorative pitstop for the lost cause.
It was the platform for him, after all, to escape a chastening 76-day spell on the Blackpool bench and grow into the leader of a Motherwell team that finished ‘best of the rest’ in the Premiership.
When Tony Watt turned up in North Lanarkshire, however, even Hartley was concerned at the excessively nomadic nature of the striker’s career.
Waster or wanderer? Either way, there was a presumption by the Motherwell captain that Watt probably wasn’t the right type as he signed for his 12th club at the age of 26 on a short-term deal.
It was a judgment Hartley — now with Indian Super League side Jamshedpur — called wrong and he was delighted to note it as soon as Watt settled among Stephen Robinson’s high-flying squad in February 2020. Motherwell has certainly been the cure for Watt’s acute case of itchy feet because, surprisingly, he’s still there — and in spectacular scoring form.
His double in the draw with St Mirren last Wednesday took him to eight goals for a season when he has been touted for Scotland after spearheading a top-six charge for Graham Alexander’s team.
As Hartley watches a renaissance campaign for his old club, following their turbulent 2020/21, he’s thrilled to see Watt (pictured, right) prove such a reliable sort. He said: ‘Sometimes when players can’t settle anywhere, it creates a perception around them. It probably has, from the outside looking in, with Tony. You’re thinking: There’s something wrong here, why’s he not settling?
‘To be honest, I thought the same before he arrived. But when you get to know the player and, more importantly, the person, it’s not what you think.
‘He’s the most hard-working, dedicated player. Definitely in my top 10. He gives everything every day, he has the right attitude, he’s a leader, leads by example for the youngsters.
‘When I saw that, I just couldn’t believe why he couldn’t settle elsewhere. He’s a great lad. Maybe it was just being away from home, I don’t know, but now he’s close to home around family, with his wife. Perhaps that’s what’s massively benefited him because he’s in the form of his life at the minute.’
Watt featured for Airdrie, Celtic, Lierse, Standard Liege, Charlton, Cardiff, Blackburn, Hearts, OH Leuven, St Johnstone and CSKA Sofia before he landed back in Lanarkshire. His quality in Alexander’s front three has helped Motherwell emerge as surprise contenders for Europe.
Hartley likes what he sees and is particularly pleased for ex-colleagues Liam Grimshaw and Bevis Mugabi.
He said: ‘I watched Motherwell at Ibrox. They were brilliant and should have won. I like the way they’re playing. Moving Grimmy into midfield has been massive.
‘He has fitness, desire, work-rate, understands the position. Grimmy had always played right wing-back or right-back for us.
‘But I remember he came into midfield at Aberdeen — we won 2-1, it could have been
four — he was the best player on the park. He came in for Cup finals having not played much and always did the job.
‘Seeing big Bevis play consistently well makes me proud because, when I was there, he was amazing one game, dipped, then was amazing again.
‘I don’t really know the manager personally but I followed his career because not many play the game until they are 40.
‘You think: “What’s this guy doing that other people aren’t”? Basically dedicating his life to being as fit as he possibly could.
‘As a manager, you always want your team to be a reflection of you and how you want to play.
‘Graham has done well everywhere he’s been. There’s no reason why Motherwell cannot break into the top three or four again.’