High-voltage Watts gives Joeys World Cup power surge

When you’re part of the famed Southampton crèche which incubated the gifts of Alan Shearer, Gareth Bale and Adam Lallana you’re entitled to dream big.

Caleb Watts Source: Southampton FC

All-action Joeys midfielder Caleb Watts is doing just that as a key ingredient of coach Trevor Morgan’s FIFA Under-17 World Cup soufflé ahead of Sunday’s first serving against Ecuador in Brazil.

England-born but with an Australian lineage, Watts, 17, is one of just three overseas based players on Morgan’s menu - the others are Noah Botic and Tristan Hammond.

And much is expected of him in a tournament which pits Australia against Hungary and Nigeria in their remaining group games. 

Not least by Watts himself, as he climbs a ladder he believes will ultimately lead to the first team squad at St Mary’s.

Having cut his teeth as a junior with Queens Park Rangers, Watts’ move to the Saints in 2017 elevated his aspirations to a higher plain.

“Southampton have such a good set up and history of bringing young players through their system, and obviously I want to be part of that,” Watts told The World Game. 

“There’s a lot of competition but I’m confident I can make the first team (at some point).

“There are a lot of pathways to make it (whether you go out on loan or stay put) and there’s no right or wrong way as long as you reach the end goal. That’s the best case scenario.”

Able to dictate the tempo and games and link the play, Watts is coming off an injury-interrupted year hoping to peak at the right time for his country, home to his grandparents in Perth and cousins in Sydney.

“Everybody’s confident that we can get out of the group and go deep into the tournament,” he said.

“First though, we need to build up some momentum and get our standards up to make sure we perform well if we do get to the knockout stages.

“I think we’ll do that and the boys do too. My job is to get on the ball as much as I can and create things for the team. 

“I think that’s a pretty accurate portrait of my game.”

Having signed a three-year professional contract at the turn of the year, Watts was part of the England set-up at Under-15 level but always had his heart set on representing Australia.

“That interest has always been there but I didn’t know if the opportunity would come,” said Watts, who made his debut against Turkey in Match and was part of the recent three match tournament in England.

“But when I joined Southampton it became much more realistic that an opportunity might eventually come.”

Morgan holds the youngster in high regard, and says he’s fit seamlessly into the fabric of his squad, who concluded their preparations for the tournament with a 3-1 behind-closed-doors loss to Chile.

“There are moments when he’s quite the architect with what happens next on the pitch...he’s a smart player who works really hard,” Morgan said.

“We are looking to get those qualities out of him. He’s had a couple of injuries so we have to manage him a little bit that I’m very pleased with what he brings both on and off the pitch.”

Watch the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup – Joeys group stage: 

Ecuador v Australia

Sunday 27th October

Estadio Olimpico, Goiania

09:45 AEDT - 12:00 AEDT

LIVE on SBS and streamed live via The World Game website / app

Australia v Hungary

Wednesday 30th October

Estadio Olimpico, Goiania

09:45 AEDT - 12:00 AEDT

LIVE on SBS and streamed live via The World Game website / app

Australia v Nigeria

Saturday 2nd November

Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia

06:45 AEDT - 09:00 AEDT

LIVE on SBS and streamed live via The World Game website / app