Brighton's Tommy Watson confident he made right move

Tommy Watson goes on a run at Old Trafford <i>(Image: Richard Parkes)</i>
Tommy Watson goes on a run at Old Trafford (Image: Richard Parkes)
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Tommy Watson is confident he made the right move – despite his old club’s flying start in the Premier League.

The summer signing from Sunderland went on as substitute for a delayed top-flight debut in Albion's 4-2 defeat by Manchester United.

He played a positive part but his side ended empty-handed.

Watson committed to the Seagulls while he was helping Sunderland chase a play-off spot.

He went on to score their wjnner at Wembley and has seen the Black Cats excel early on in the top tier.

They grabbed a 2-1 win at Chelsea just ahead of Albion’s game at Old Trafford.

Watson, though, is happy with his choice and excited about what lies ahead.

He told The Argus: “I think I would be getting minutes at Sunderland but personally I think the level of the group is higher here.

“I think this system suits my game more and I think this environment is set up for me to go and kick on and prove myself.

“I think it’s a dynamic system. I love the intensity to go and press high up the pitch

“I think you can see it with (Yankuba) Minteh and when Kaoru (Mitoma) is playing.

“They are getting on the ball to show what they can do and I’m hoping I can do that.

“Minteh's flying, unfortunately Kaoru has picked off a little bit of a knock, but I'm sure he will be back scoring goals soon.”

Watson has not been alone in having to wait for his chance but he says it has not been easy.

He said: “I'm a player who really wants to be playing and then obviously I went away with England, didn't get a lot of minutes there either so I think hopefully now, it's going to be a period where I can get good minutes into the legs and show what I can do.”

That wait for action was extended when his introduction to the Newcastle game was put on hold.

Hurzeler readied him for action, shook hands and wished him well – then told him to sit down as Danny Welbeck scored what turned out to be the winner.

Centre-back Diego Coppola was sent on instead to help protect the lead.

Watson said: “I was definitely disappointed last week, but then, when you have time to reflect, the manager brought on Cops.

“He's probably the man you want to bring on to see out the result.

“So it has worked out well and then I think there's no better place to make your Prem debut than at Old Trafford.”

Mitoma’s status remains something of an unknown.

He has been absent for four weeks now and asked by a Japanese reporter at Old Trafford how close he is to a return, Hurzeler replied simply: “Close!”

Minteh has been Albion’s only genuine wing threat at kick-off in recent games and that cannot be good either for him or the team balance in general.

Watson on the left and Minteh back on the right looks a solution to that if the former merits his place.

Asked his aims now, Watson said: “I think firstly to establish myself and be confident at this level and then, obviously, I've had goals and assists in the cup.

“Hopefully I can bring that into the Premier League as well.” 


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