Sunderland have Tommy Watson to thank for getting them back to winning ways, but the youngster wanted to praise his manager and teammates instead.
After a run of six games without a win for Sunderland, it was teenage talent Tommy Watson who stepped up against Stoke City to secure the three points in a 2-1 win.
Sunderland fans were delighted with the ‘fantastic’ display from Watson on the day, and hopes are now sky high that the Black Cats youngster can go on to great things this season.
Having made his debut more than a year ago, the exciting winger has had to remain patient, but he’s now thriving under Regis Le Bris.
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Tommy Watson is ‘blessed’ to be working with Regis Le Bris and Sunderland players
Speaking to the press (via Sunderland’s official Twitter/X account), Watson discussed that long wait for another opportunity, and underlined just how important the Sunderland manager and his teammates have been in helping him take the big leaps he has this season.
Watson said: “The gaffer has been really good for me. At the end of last season, I was really eager — maybe too eager — to get into the team. Now it’s turned out that I just needed to be patient. I’m taking my chances, I’ve come through injuries, and I feel the trust the manager and coaching staff put into me.
“He’s a top manager, tactically really really good. He’s exactly what I need here. It’s a perfect group for me to come into… This feels like a breakthrough for me. I’m so blessed and lucky with the group that’s there. The personalities suit me. The squad is just perfect to push on for promotion.”
Watson is one of many young stars emerging at Sunderland right now, alongside the likes of Chris Rigg and Jobe Bellingham, with the Black Cats having the youngest average age of any squad in the league.
Clearly, Le Bris is sticking to his promise of prioritising the development of his young players above anything else by giving these teenage talents their chance in the first-team.
The sky’s the limit for Tommy Watson after ‘breakthrough’ performance
Watson was the standout performer for Sunderland against Stoke, and it really does feel like the kind of display that can alter the course of his career, at least in the short-term.
Having come into the team to replace Romaine Mundle, a player Sunderland appeared to be desperately missing, Watson will now be keen to make it very difficult for his teammate to win back his place.
Either way, it looks like Watson can have a brilliant season under Le Bris this year, and will continue to get his chance to shine from here on out.