He’s scored at far grander venues but Tony Watt was delighted to find the net at Links Park, Montrose on Saturday.
After scoring back-to-back goals for Charlton against Scunthorpe and Walsall in March 2017 it has been a long for the former Celtic striker to find the back of the net.
Every day social media ‘experts’ tell him that his career has gone down the drain but at the age of 24 he has a platform for regular first team football and the chance to deliver the potential first noticed at Airdrie seven years ago.
Saturday’s goal gave St Johnstone full points in the Betfred Cup but meant much much more for their match-winner.
“It’s been frustrating but I probably needed that to realise I love football and to get the hunger back,” Watt told The Sun.
“The six months off made me realise how much I like football. I was having it bad in the last 18 months before that.
“Okay, it is a waste of two years but I have done a lot before I was 22 and between 22 and 24 I have probably struggled.
“Now it is if I am starting my career again at 24, people talk about the wonder-kid, but that’s just a tag. It doesn’t bother me. It is about how I perform on the park
“Getting this goal takes the pressure off at the start, so it takes the heat off me. I am happy to just get a goal however it came, thankfully it arrived in my first start and I just need to keep adding to it.”
Tomorrow night Watt gets a chance to add to his goal tally when St Johnstone host Falkirk before completing their group away to Forfar on Saturday.
Despite their weekend defeat Montrose are at the top of Group 2 a point clear of Tommy Wright’s side with a game more played.
If Saints win their two remaining matches they will top their group and go forward into the knock out phase which will include the clubs competing in UEFA competition this week.