Sunderland have a new hero in Tommy Watson. But the teenager can’t quite shake off the Jack Clarke comparisons just yet.
Last season, Sunderland fans were wowed by emerging footage and clips of an exciting young winger in the academy called Tommy Watson.
He was dribbling past opponents, cutting inside and finishing moves almost every week, at the same time as Jack Clarke was doing the exact same for the first-team.
It led to Sunderland fans comparing Watson to Clarke. During the summer, Ipswich Town signed Clarke and Watson was bumped up in the first-team, playing regularly in recent weeks amid the injury to Romaine Mundle.
Last time out, Watson scored his first goals for Sunderland in the 2-1 win over Stoke City, scoring both goals in what was his fourth-straight start for Regis Le Bris’ side.
The Sunderland academy man now looks like an increasingly important player during what remains a mixed run of form in the Championship. But he’s keen to rid himself of the Clarke comparisons.
Tommy Watson hits back at Jack Clarke comparisons at Sunderland
Speaking to The Northern Echo ahead of Sunderland’s game against Bristol City at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday night, Watson was asked about Clarke.
Watson explained that he thinks he’s more ‘explosive’ than Clarke was, and that he’s keen to make his own name at Sunderland, rather than have these Clarke comparisons go on for much longer.
The teenager said: “I liked the stuff he was doing and the way he attacked his man and contributed to the team with goals and assists but I think we’re different players.
“I’m probably more explosive I think but as long as I can make an impact like he did I’ll be happy. But I do want to try and take my name away from that and make my own name.”
Regis Le Bris sets next challenge for Tommy Watson at Sunderland
Watson has certainly made an impression of late. Sunderland fans were blown away by Watson against Sheffield United and then he got his goals against Stoke, setting the bar much higher for himself than it was a few weeks ago.
Speaking ahead of Bristol City, Le Bris says he wants to see consistency from Watson at Sunderland, saying: “So far he’s been really impressive. He was good at Sheffield – that’s a tough place.
“He was a constant threat in the first half especially. He was able to repeat the same performance last Saturday so he’s very consistent, so far.
“Now he has to repeat and repeat and repeat. It’s not huge pressure but it’s the rule of competitive sport.”
Sunderland against Bristol City kicks off at 7:45pm on Tuesday night.