Kelland Watts

Kelland John William James Watts (born 3 November 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for League One club Plymouth Argyle.

Kelland Watts
Personal information
Full name Kelland John William James Watts[1]
Date of birth (1999-11-03) 3 November 1999[2]
Place of birth Alnwick, England[3]
Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Position(s) Defender[3]
Club information
Current team
 Plymouth Argyle
(on loan from Newcastle United)
Number 2
Youth career
2008–2018 Newcastle United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Newcastle United 1 (0)
2019–2020 → Stevenage (loan) 16 (0)
2020 → Mansfield Town (loan) 10 (1)
2020– → Plymouth Argyle (loan) 21 (1)
National team
2018 England U19 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:34, 7 January 2021 (UTC)

Club career

Watts began playing football for Cramlington Juniors before joining Newcastle United's academy in 2008.[4] He progressed through the various youth ranks at Newcastle, signing his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2018.[3][5] Having played in all 41 matches for Newcastle's U23 team during the 2018–19 season,[3] scoring six times,[3] Watts appeared on the substitute's bench in Newcastle's final Premier League game of the season, a 4–0 away victory at Fulham on 12 May 2019, although was an unused substitute in the match.[5][6]

Ahead of the 2019–20 season, Watts was included in Newcastle's 2019 Premier League Asia Trophy squad.[7] He joined League Two club Stevenage on a season-long loan on 16 August 2019.[7] He made his professional debut the following day, playing the whole match in a 0–0 draw away at Leyton Orient.[8]

On 24 August 2020, Watts signed on loan for Plymouth Argyle for the 2020-21 season.[9] He scored his first goal for Plymouth in an EFL Cup tie against Leyton Orient on 15 September 2020.[10]

International career

Watts was called up to the England U19 team for the 2018 UEFA European U19 Championship.[11] He made his England U19 debut in a 3–2 win over Turkey U19s on 17 July 2018, playing the whole match.[2][11][12] He played twice during the tournament as England U19s finished third in their group.[2]

Style of play

Watts began his career playing as a midfielder, before later being deployed in defence.[3] He is primarily a left-footed central defender.[7][13] Watts has been described as having "a strong eye for goal", emphasised by scoring two hat-tricks during the 2017–18 season,[5] as well as being praised for being "quick, focused and strong in the air".[5]

Career statistics
As of match played 9 November 2019
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Newcastle United 2018–19[14] Premier League 0000000000
2019–20[15] Premier League 1000000010
Total 1000000010
Stevenage (loan) 2019–20[15] League Two 15010003[lower-alpha 1]0190
Career total 150100030200
  1. Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Notification of shirt numbers: Mansfield Town" (PDF). English Football League. p. 68. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  2. "Soccerway – Kelland Watts". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  3. "Newcastle United – Kelland Watts". Newcastle United F.C. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  5. "Who is Kelland Watts? The Newcastle United U23 defender handed his first team place by Rafa Benitez". Chronicle Live. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  6. "Fulham 0–4 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 12 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  7. "Kelland Watts: Newcastle United defender joins Stevenage on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  8. "Leyton Orient 0–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  9. "Kelland Watts: Plymouth Argyle sign Newcastle United defender on loan". BBC Sport. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  10. "Leyton Orient 3-2 Plymouth". BBC. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  11. "Watts makes England bow as Young Lions see off Turkey". Newcastle United F.C. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  12. "Turkey U19 2–3 England U19". Soccerway. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  13. "Kelland Watts arrives on loan". Stevenage F.C. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  14. "Games played by Kelland Watts in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  15. "Games played by Kelland Watts in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
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