Marco Silva said he will seek assurance that Fulham share his ambition before entering into talks over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season.
The Cottagers remain on track for a highest-ever top-flight points tally this campaign, with two wins needed from their final three games to make it a record-breaking year.
Silva’s stock has risen greatly since taking over at Craven Cottage following the team’s relegation to the Sky Bet Championship in 2021, returning them to the Premier League at the first attempt and ensuring a comfortable mid-table finish.
They had briefly looked like challenging for Europe after a 1-0 win at Brighton in February took them sixth, but have dipped after winning only three times in the league since, a run that has in part coincided with the loss of top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic to an eight-game ban.
Mitrovic will return for Saturday’s trip to bottom side Southampton as Fulham seek to cap an historic season.
But with a gulf in resources an obstacle to breaking into the top seven, Silva was asked whether he would need to leave the club in order to fulfil his potential, or fight to try and break the league’s glass ceiling.
“Myself as a manager, always if you do something in one season, you should aim to do better the next season, it’s always like that,” said Silva. “I know that sometimes the high expectation plays against you as well, that is clear.
“My way to be in football is always to try to do something different, try to improve in all aspects of the game, to try to perform better. Of course if you perform better you start to achieve different results and try to improve the results as well.
“We have to be realistic, but at the same time we have to be really ambitious as a football club because the competition will be harder, will be more difficult and we have to prepare ourselves as best as we can.
“We want to improve all aspects of our game and as a club.
“Definitely (ambition will play a part in contract talks). It’s been like that from the first season I joined the club. First season, I knew what in that moment I was going to face, it was a club that was relegated, the situation in the Championship is to try to settle the team and get the best out if the squad that you have.
“The season after we did well in the market, not spending the same amount of money as other clubs but I think we did it really well. Next season we have to do the same, try to improve in all the areas of the squad, and of course match the ambitions of myself and the owner of this club like we did the last two seasons.”
Top-scorer Mitrovic will be available for the first time since being banned for grabbing the referee during Fulham’s FA Cup exit to Manchester United in March.
The striker has been training with the club throughout his suspension and Silva insisted he will be ready to play a part in his side’s final three games.
“I didn’t feel that I really needed to give him a week out of the club to be with the family or to relax a little bit,” said the manager. “He didn’t need it.
“What I saw from him always is him ready to work, it’s a very good sign, a sign that he knew what he is going to face during this long period, but at the same time he knew that he had to work really hard, and he did.
“Now it’s important for us to forget the last eight weeks and all the things that happened. If you compare with everything that happened this season, it’s unbelievable that number of games, but that was the decision and you have to respect it.”
Novak Djokovic made a winning return to action at the Italian Open despite complaining about the state of the court and appearing to be feeling a little under the weather.
While the absent Rafael Nadal remains the main injury concern ahead of the French Open, Djokovic sat out the Madrid Open because of a right elbow problem.
He still had strapping on the joint during his second-round clash with Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry in Rome and had to battle hard to win a long first set before pulling away to triumph 7-6 (5) 6-2.
Djokovic, who will be overtaken as world number one by Carlos Alcaraz a week on Monday, dropped serve in the opening game and, although he quickly fought back, he was unhappy about the number of bad bounces.
The 35-year-old also seemed to be troubled by his stomach and he missed two set points at 4-5 before trailing 3-0 and 5-3 in the tie-break.
Etcheverry could not finish the job, though, and, with Roma boss Jose Mourinho among those watching from the stands, Djokovic was able to breathe much more easily after winning the final four points of the tie-break.
Speaking afterwards on Amazon Prime Video, he said: “I’m still not at the desired level, finding the shots, finding that groove on the court.
“It’s always a little bit tricky playing someone for the first time, he’s a clay-court specialist and he started better than I did. The second set was good, especially the last three or four games. I’m happy with the way I closed out that match.”
On his complaints about the court, he said: “Every second bounce is uneven, the court is not in a great state, but you’ve got to deal with that, you’ve got to accept the conditions the way they are and try to make the most out of it.”
Earlier, Cameron Norrie eased into the third round of the Italian Open with a 6-2 6-3 victory over French qualifier Alexandre Muller, while defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek was in ruthless form.
British number one Norrie has yet to really catch fire on the European clay so far this season, winning one match each in Barcelona and Madrid and losing his first encounter in Monte-Carlo.
While this was a match Norrie would certainly have expected to win, the manner of his success was particularly encouraging, with the 27-year-old facing only one break point and taking his own chances confidently.
Next the 13th seed will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who upset Australian Alex De Minaur 6-3 6-4.
Djokovic meets Grigor Dimitrov, who saw off Stan Wawrinka, while there were victories for Casper Ruud, Holger Rune and popular Italian duo Jannik Sinner and Fabio Fognini.
Performance of the day, though, came from world number one Swiatek, who responded to her Madrid Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka by thumping former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 6-0.
Swiatek lost on her Rome debut in 2020 to Arantxa Rus but is now on a 12-match winning streak in the Italian capital.
“When I’m playing these kind of matches, I’m just trying to be focused,” the Pole told reporters. “I’m trying to remember what got me this nice score, what I should do to continue playing that well.”
Fourth seed Ons Jabeur, who lost to Swiatek in the final last year, was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Paula Badosa on her return from injury, while ninth seed Maria Sakkari defeated Barbora Strycova – who is back on tour after maternity leave – 6-1 6-3.
Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor edged out England’s Kipp Popert to win the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn.
The two leading players in the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability fought out a three-day battle over the Duchess Course before Lawlor’s final round of 75 gave him a winning total of three over par, two clear of Popert.
The 26-year-old’s victory means he will replace Popert at the top of the world rankings.
Lawlor, who recently highlighted the abuse he had received on social media after competing in a DP World Tour event, said: “It’s just an unbelievable feeling. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.
“I’ve put so much hard work into my game the last few months and it’s been trending really well. I just couldn’t get it over the line last year, so it’s been a while since I’ve been in the winner’s circle.
“I’m proud of myself just to get it done, really happy. I didn’t hit it well all day but I made a lot of clutch putts on the front nine.
“It’s been an incredible week. The volunteers, The R&A, DP World Tour, EDGA, everybody involved has put in so much work to get this championship done.
“Every player here, we felt like royalty this week. Hopefully this is the start and we’re going to have many more of these major events. Disability golf is definitely on the way up.”
Popert, who held a two-shot lead at one stage during the final round before making costly bogeys on the 13th and 15th, said: “It was great fun.
“This is the first-ever G4D Open and to be in contention I played really well. Brendan deserves it and I couldn’t be happier for him. Basically it was just one of those days where Brendan beat me. I’m still very happy.”
A field of 80 male and female players competed at Woburn across sport classes which cover various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.
American Kim Moore, who won the US Adaptive Open at Pinehurst last year, was the leading female player, finishing four shots ahead of Ireland’s Fiona Gray.
James Anderson failed to appear for Lancashire as they rued poor catching in their LV= Insurance County Championship Division One clash with Somerset at Emirates Old Trafford.
The record-breaking England seamer left the field just before Thursday’s close of play with what was described as a “minor issue”.
The remaining Red Rose players combined to drop seven catches as teenager James Rew took centre stage, hitting 105 in Somerset’s total of 361 all out. Lancashire were 72 for two in reply at the close.
Tom Alsop’s unbeaten century helped Sussex into a strong position against Leicestershire despite Steve Smith falling cheaply.
Australia star Smith, who made a low-key 30 on his Sussex debut at Worcester last week, was back in the pavilion having scored just three off 14 balls as the match finally got under way.
However, despite his failure, Sussex still enjoyed a good second day as they made 319 for four after being sent into bat, with Alsop (118 not out), Cheteshwar Pujara (77) and James Coles (59no) leading the way.
Yorkshire edged their way into a controlling position against Durham, leading the hosts by 118 heading into day three.
George Hill claimed four wickets to help bowl Durham out for 227, with Yorkshire reaching 91 for three in their second innings and England pair Dawid Malan (33 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (16no) at the crease.
Rory Burns led from the front with a fluent and aggressive 88 as Surrey chased a significant first-innings lead against Middlesex, trailing by only 19 runs on 190 for three at stumps.
But the most eye-catching innings of a second day cut short by bad weather was Jamie Smith’s 55 not out, with the 22-year old showing off some memorable and high-class strokes.
Nottinghamshire seamer Brett Hutton took his third five-wicket haul of the season to compound former county Northamptonshire’s ongoing batting woes.
Hutton found plenty of movement under floodlights, cloudy skies and light rain and precipitated a Northamptonshire collapse from 113 for two to 158 all out.
A fluent fourth-wicket stand of 68 between Joe Clarke (41 not out) and Matthew Montgomery (34) helped Nottinghamshire close one run behind on 157 for four.
A buccaneering 10th-wicket stand of 70 restored Warwickshire’s control after Essex fought back hard at Edgbaston.
Essex closed day two on 86 for four, still trailing by 30, after Warwickshire’s last pair Hassan Ali (53 not out) and Olly Hannon-Dalby (18) clouted 70 from 69 balls to lift their side to 242.
A well-made 86 from Michael Neser and four wickets from Timm van der Gugten put Glamorgan within touching distance of their first win of the season against Worcestershire in Cardiff.
With Worcestershire ending the day on 195 for seven, 46 runs in front with just three wickets left, Glamorgan will be hoping to wrap up victory on Saturday.
Gloucestershire seamer Matt Taylor impressed on his first appearance of the season against Derbyshire, taking two for 18 from 10 overs as the hosts struggled on another day badly hit by the weather.
No play was possible until 2pm because of a wet outfield and – after Gloucestershire won the toss – Derbyshire reached 130 for five before bad light ended play early.
There was frustration for fans and players alike at Canterbury as a mere 6.1 overs were possible between Kent and Hampshire, with the visitors moving to 103 without loss, a lead of eight.
Tottenham have no intention of interviewing Julian Nagelsmann over the vacant managerial role, the PA news agency understands.
Nagelsmann has been heavily linked with the post since his shock departure from Bayern Munich at the end of March.
The 35-year-old was in the running for the Spurs job in 2021 before Bayern swooped in at the time to secure the services of one of the most highly sought-after young coaches in world football.
When Antonio Conte left Tottenham soon after Nagelsmann’s dramatic exit from the Bundesliga champions, it was anticipated the German coach would again be in the mix for the vacancy at the Premier League club.
Speculation has rumbled on since but while Tottenham have great respect for Nagelsmann, they will not be meeting or interviewing him for the role and he is not a contender, PA understands.
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from May 12.
FootballA busy day for Erling Haaland.
Diego Costa was roughed up.
Phew!
Paul Pogba was feeling the power.
Georginio Wijnaldum was looking forward.
Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas celebrated his 27th birthday.
Got hops!
Formula OneAll love between Lewis Hamilton and former team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
CricketBirthday greetings from one cricket star to another.
NFLHow many could you name?
Motor racingMartin Brundle scrubbed up well.
Romain Grosjean was ready for the weekend.
Dundee have secured the services of highly-regarded midfielder Lyall Cameron on a new two-year deal.
The homegrown 20-year-old was instrumental in the Dens Park side winning the cinch Championship this season, scoring 14 goals and being named the club’s player of the year.
There were fears among supporters that Dundee may lose their prized asset as his previous deal expired this summer and he had been linked with other clubs, but the Dark Blues have moved to tie him down until 2025.
Dundee are currently searching for a new manager after Gary Bowyer left earlier this week, just days after securing the team’s return to the Premiership.
Todd Cantwell wants a Rangers win over Celtic on Saturday to reward the Gers fans who have not enjoyed any Old Firm success this season.
The Light Blues have failed to register a victory in the last six games against the Parkhead side – five of them in this campaign – including defeats in the ViaPlay Cup final and Scottish Cup semi-final.
Celtic will travel to Govan as cinch Premiership title winners with a domestic treble still in their sights as they face Championship side Inverness in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park on June 3.
The visitors will not have any supporters inside Ibrox due to fan “security and safety” reasons, as was the case when Rangers visited the east end of Glasgow in April.
Cantwell has become a fans favourite since signing from Norwich in January and said: “I think the fans here want one thing and that’s people that care and they want people that want to play for the badge.
“As soon as they can see that then I think they’re on your side”.
And the Rangers playmaker is hoping to give the Light Blues supporters three points.
He said: “Yeah, I think it’s so important tomorrow for the fans more than anything.
“They’ve stuck with us. It has been a disappointing campaign and they do deserve better so, for me, it’s an opportunity tomorrow with them all there to hopefully see a good performance from us and hopefully a win.
“I think the fans in these games are what makes the games as well.
“We went there and we didn’t have any fans and they’re obviously having the same but I think the fans make this fixture.
“As long as everyone’s well behaved, it’s a game that everyone around the world looks at and thinks, ‘what a fantastic football match’.”
Cameron Norrie eased into the third round of the Italian Open while defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek was in ruthless form.
British number one Norrie has yet to really catch fire on clay so far this season, winning one match each in Barcelona and Madrid and losing his first encounter in Monte-Carlo, so a 6-2 6-3 victory over French qualifier Alexandre Muller was much needed.
While it was a match Norrie would certainly have expected to win, the manner of his success was particularly encouraging, with the 27-year-old facing only one break point and taking his own chances confidently.
Next the 13th seed will face Hungarian Marton Fucsovics, who upset Australian Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-4.
Italian number one Jannik Sinner made a strong start to his campaign, beating Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1 6-4, while another Australian, Alexei Popyrin, upset Felix Auger-Aliassime and Grigor Dimitrov saw off Stan Wawrinka.
Performance of the day, though, came from world number one Swiatek, who responded to her Madrid Open final loss to Aryna Sabalenka by thumping former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0 6-0.
Russian Pavlyuchenkova, who is working her way back from long-term injury, saved six set points in the opener but was unable to get on the board.
Swiatek lost on her Rome debut in 2020 to Arantxa Rus but is now on a 12-match winning streak in the Italian capital.
“When I’m playing these kind of matches, I’m just trying to be focused,” the Pole told reporters. “I’m trying to remember what got me this nice score, what I should do to continue playing that well.
“I don’t want to lose points on purpose. It doesn’t make sense. So I’m always going to be that kind of player who wants to win the next point.”
Fourth seed Ons Jabeur, who lost to Swiatek in the final last year, was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Paula Badosa on her return from injury while ninth seed Maria Sakkari defeated Barbora Strycova, who is back on tour after maternity leave, 6-1 6-3.
Jim Goodwin wants his Dundee United players to be inspired by the magnitude of the occasion when relegation rivals Ross County visit a packed Tannadice on Saturday.
A crowd of more than 10,000 is expected for a critical showdown between two sides separated by just a point at the foot of the cinch Premiership.
Adding to the “emotion” of the match will be the fact it falls on the weekend of the 40th anniversary of their only top-flight title win under Jim McLean in 1983.
“We’re all looking forward to a terrific game on Saturday in front of what is expected to be one of the biggest home attendances of the season,” said manager Goodwin.
“I think not only does it illustrate the magnitude of the game but it also illustrates the size of this club and how well-supported it is. That was one of the biggest factors in me wanting to come here, to be a part of a big club with a great history.
“It’s a very important weekend in the calendar, the 40th anniversary of when the old boys won the league so that kind of adds to the emotion of the day from the supporters.
“The players are aware of the significance of that albeit we are fighting for our lives whereas those guys 40 years ago were competing up the top end to go and win championships which is something we could only dream of at this moment in time!
“But it does give you an understanding of what kind of football club you are at.
“For those players, I think it’s a really good message to them to realise they are at one of the biggest clubs in the country that have a great history and probably adds to the importance of the game in terms of why we need to keep this team in the Premiership.”
United looked to have hauled themselves towards safety after a run of three wins in a row took them four points clear of County but their defeat at St Johnstone last weekend allowed Malky Mackay’s Staggies to close the gap to just a point. Kilmarnock are also level on points with United.
“We have to be realistic about the situation,” said Goodwin.
“We know we’re in a relegation dogfight. We know we’re up against some good, competitive teams in Kilmarnock and Ross County.
“There’s nobody here who had assumed Ross County were out of it (before last weekend). We have always tried to keep our feet on the ground and stay level-headed.
“Winning three games on the spin can bring confidence and belief but it was never a case of us thinking we had turned a corner and that we were all of a sudden going to pull ourselves away from the bottom.
“There’s certainly no hangover from last weekend though, the lads are still very much where they need to be psychologically.”
Malky Mackay will put Ross County’s crucial trip to Dundee United on Saturday in the context of a four-game relegation finale to the cinch Premiership campaign.
The Staggies much-needed 2-0 home win over Livingston last week tightened things at the bottom of the table.
County are still in the basement but only one point behind Kilmarnock and Dundee United, who lost 1-0 to St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in their last outing, while Killie went down 2-0 at Motherwell.
With games against Motherwell, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock to follow the trip to Tayside, boss Mackay looked at the bigger picture.
He said: “You look at the league table and everything is closed up, which is important.
“We managed to win and the two teams above us didn’t so it brings us that little bit closer to each other which is something that gives confidence to the group.
“We have to make sure we keep focused on the game which is right on front of our face and make sure we approach every game in the same manner we did at the weekend.
“Obviously, everyone knows what’s to play for in the four games coming.
“We have to be balanced as far as that is concerned and just make sure we go down there and give our best version of ourselves on the day.
“I don’t think you can (distinguish between games against closest rivals and other two), if you do that then fail in the games against the other two, then all of a sudden you could be in a worse position.
“So I think you just go straight into the game against the team you are playing and try to do your best and see where it falls at the end of the day, just like Saturday. No doubts it will be a tough game.”
Stephen Robinson is honoured to be nominated for the PFA Scotland manager of the year award but the St Mirren boss is determined the whole club get the main prize of the season by qualifying for Europe.
Robinson has led the Buddies to their first cinch Premiership top-six finish since the split was introduced towards the end of last century and his side are in the hunt for their first foray into Europe for 35 years.
The former Oldham, Motherwell and Morecambe manager said: “It’s an honour. It’s justified not for me but for the club, the board, the staff at the ground and the training ground and the players. They deserve the recognition.
“It’s recognition for everybody on what we have achieved this season. I’m at the head of it so you get the praise for it but ultimately the players have been exceptional.
“It’s the first time in a long, long time that St Mirren have been in the top six, still battling for a place in Europe.
“It’s credit to everyone that we have come through really difficult times which has culminated in a top-six finish and hopefully more.
“We are 1-0 down in the race for Europe and we have to play like that.”
Robinson’s side lost 2-1 to Hibernian in their first post-split fixture after making a poor start at Easter Road and he is trying to ensure they display the fighting mentality they showed after the break when they host Hearts on Saturday.
“I usually play everything down, so it is a must-win,” he said.
“We were 2-0 down at half-time and then we played absolutely brilliant. We played with no fear, we didn’t over-think things, and that’s the way we have to play for 96-97 minutes on Saturday.
“We have to play as if we are 1-0 down. We have to play without fear, be the attacking team, as attacking as we can do with our injury situation with strikers.
“We have absolutely nothing to lose. There was no expectation for us to get this far and I have told the boys we have got our praise for top six now, so we have enjoyed that, let’s go and get more praise and get the recognition the players deserve for trying to get into Europe – 100 per cent it’s a must-win.”
Robinson’s nomination continues the positive press St Mirren have been getting and the Northern Irishman was disappointed to see negative headlines in recent days.
Former St Mirren director Alan Wardrop, who was a key member of fan ownership group SMISA, has been banned from the ground after raising concerns in the media over part-owner Kibble’s actions over a previous attempt to raise funds to build a wellbeing centre in Paisley.
St Mirren last week stated that there had been no plans to build the centre on land owned by the club and charity Kibble stated that confusion had arisen because of an error from the council in relation to a map of the land.
Robinson was disappointed to see Wardrop raise concerns publicly.
“I am right in amongst this football club and I know exactly what happens,” he said. “I work closely with Jim Gillespie who is part of the Kibble ownership and I work closely with SMISA and I have had nothing but support and direction. Everybody is puling in the same direction at this football club.
“It’s unnecessary in probably the biggest week in the club’s history for 30-40 years, really unnecessary negativity that we don’t need and players that we are trying to sign don’t need to read about.
“We are not having any of that. As a football staff we are not having any of that. We are a positive group of people.”
There was further positive news for Robinson after 21-year-old Lewis Jamieson signed a one-year contract.
Robinson said: “Lewis came back from Airdrie, he had lost his way a little bit in terms of fitness levels and application, and what a turnaround.
“He reminds me a little bit of Ethan (Erhahon). When I came in he looked a little bit lost but his work ethic and quality is there for everyone to see.”
Ryan Mason believes Harry Kane is right to highlight Tottenham’s lost values in recent seasons.
Spurs travel to eighth-placed Aston Villa on Saturday knowing victory will virtually secure them a place in the Europa Conference League next season with hopes of a top-four finish long gone.
It is a far cry from Tottenham’s best years under Mauricio Pochettino when they were regularly in the Champions League and one of the best clubs in the country.
Kane has taken part in various interviews during the past week where he has spoken about the club losing the values they had under Pochettino and how he is determined to restore a strong culture and environment despite uncertainty over his future with only one year left on his contract.
“Yep, absolutely I am fully with him on that 100 per cent,” Spurs’ acting head coach Mason responded when quizzed on Kane’s comments.
“We can talk a lot about players but I think the environment, culture, it’s everyone, everything, the small details. We have to have many people driving that, not just one or two people. It has to be driven from within.
“I agree with him because I was part of probably the change in setting new standards and a new culture within this place.
“You can spend years trying to build something but at the same time it doesn’t take long to lose it.
“Thankfully for us we still have many, many good people within these walls who know and feel what good looks like and probably more importantly want that as well. It is something we absolutely strive for.
“It is important, it’s vital and it’s crucial that everyone who comes in here is pulling in the same direction and want the same things. I think that goes for every single football club as well.
“We need that. Every club needs that, we need that. I agree with him.
“I am happy that he has said it because he is one of the people I want to drive it because he is important to us, in terms of his stature at this football but also his understanding that there’s many people that can contribute as well.”
With speculation rife over Kane’s future, fans have taken comfort in his recent comments seemingly suggesting he would be at Tottenham next season.
Last month, chairman Daniel Levy revealed his hope for Kane to have a statue outside the stadium one day, but Mason admitted it was premature for now.
“I think that is probably a question to answer when he is not playing here because then you can recognise and appreciate the work he has done,” Mason admitted.
“Right now it is probably a bit premature because the reality is, Harry is still a Tottenham player and we are still focused on him achieving more great things for this football club. Hopefully he can do that.
“Our focus is on Harry until the end of the season – like it is for every player – and then we realise at the end of the season there are some decisions to make for different people and players.”
Meanwhile, Mason called for punishment to be handed out to the spectator at last weekend’s home match against Crystal Palace who allegedly racially abused Son Heung-min.
He added: “If there is anyone stepping out of line, they need to be punished.”
Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson aims to emulate his mother and play for Scotland.
The 18-year-old this week signed a new contract at Rugby Park after breaking into the first team in recent months.
Watson’s mother, Claire Houston, played for Scotland before he was born and was present when he made his league debut at Ibrox in March.
“It was quite scary to be fair because there were 50,000 people there watching,” he said. “You don’t really know what’s going on.
“You don’t play in front of crowds at reserve-level football so it’s a wee bit daunting to walk out in front of fans.
“Once you get settled and get a few touches of the ball you realise it’s not as bad and it’s good after that.
“My mum, my dad and wee brother were there. It was good to look up and see them in the stand.
“My mum played with Scotland so it’s something that runs in the family and I hope to play for Scotland as well one day and be like her.
“I think my mum was crying when I went on. It was a proud moment. It’s good to make my family proud and hopefully I can keep on making them proud.”
Watson’s new deal runs to 2025 but he is planning on staying at Rugby Park a lot longer.
“I have been here since I was seven and it’s been brilliant so I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else,” the Prestwick teenager said.
“I am happy where I am. I am getting first-team football which I have always wanted here.
“The gaffer has put trust in me to play and I want to stay here as long as I can.
“I look at other players like Rory McKenzie, he is similar to me and he has made 300 appearances so I would look up to someone like him.”
Watson made two appearances in the League Cup at the start of the season and has now played nine first-team games.
“It’s been a good step up, I have been enjoying it, I think I have taken the challenge on quite well,” he said.
“Obviously the gaffer believing in me and putting the trust in me to put me in takes a lot. That has given me a lot of confidence and belief.”
Watson has kept his feet on the ground during his recent rapid rise.
“I don’t really pay attention to social media,” he said. “I have had feedback just from walking by fans so that’s good.
“It’s a really weird feeling (getting recognised) but it’s something that comes with football so you need to get used to it.”
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