As Newcastle United begin preparations for the new season in their multi-million pound York training camp, one promising youngster has got Jamaal Lascelles talking – Kelland Watts.
The 20-year-old has shocked the skipper with his professionalism and physicality – revealing how he “blew them out of the water” in training and outperformed the entire first team squad in fitness drills!
Watts made his debut against the champions Liverpool on the last day of the season, having spent time at Stevenage and Mansfield on loan in the last year.
He’s since been included in Bruce’s pre-season plans and has today completed a season-long loan move to League One side Plymouth Argyle ahead 2020/21.
After training with the youngster over the past few days, here’s what club captain Lascelles told NUFC TV about the centre-back’s impressive week in York:
“We’ve been doing 1,500 metre runs, five times, as fast as we can,”
“In fairness to the young lad, Kell Watts, he has just smashed everyone there and got the best time.
“My money was on Miggy but Kell has just blown everyone out of the water.
“He is a great pro, he is a great character and he understands his position. He understands he has got to reach a certain level.
“Some of the younger lads nowadays play a couple of games, get in the papers and think they have made it but Kell has been out on loan, he knows what it is like down at Stevenage and at Mansfield and he is always looking to improve his game.
“He is always talking to the senior players and he has got a great character. “It is refreshing to see and he is pushing us.
“He is a great credit to the group.”
Promising comments from the skipper and big praise from a fellow centre-back – who has clearly been impressed by him both mentally and physically.
The young centre half’s potential is there for all to see. More importantly, he seems to be mentally strong as has stayed grounded despite his breakthrough to the first team.
Hopefully Watts can have a brilliant season out on loan with Plymouth and return next summer an even better player!
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