Kelland Watts Signs

Highly-rated Newcastle United defender Kelland Watts has joined Argyle on a season-long loan.

A left-footed central defender who is also adept in midfield, Watts spent the first half of last season on loan at Sky Bet League Two side Stevenage, making 15 appearances for the Hertfordshire club – including one as an emergency forward.

Upon leaving the Boro, Watts moved on to Graham Coughlan’s Mansfield Town until the end of the season, making a further eight appearances, scoring once, prior to the season’s premature suspension.

Well thought of at St James’ Park, Kelland returned to Tyneside and joined the Magpies’ first-team squad for the resumption of the Premier League, appearing on the bench for United’s 0-0 draw at Brighton in the penultimate game of the season. A few days later, the twenty-year-old made his top-flight debut as a substitute during the final day 3-1 home defeat against title-winning Liverpool.

With the Premier League side commencing their pre-season schedule in the last week, Watts has continued to train with the first-team squad ahead of the 20/21 campaign, earning the public praise of club captain Jamaal Lascelles for his training performances and attitude.

Watts has been capped twice for England at under-19 level, both appearances for the Young Lions coming in the 2018 UEFA European under-19 Championship. On debut, he played in England’s 3-2 victory over Turkey, before also starting a 1-1 draw with Ukraine three days later.

Kelland will wear the no.2 shirt in the Pilgrims’ 20/21 Sky Bet League One campaign.

The deal is subject to EFL approval.

Ryan Lowe is pulling in some decent players make no mistake. This will be a powerful team

Welcome Kelland

All the feedback from Mansfield and Newcastle fans is very positive on this lad. Was sniffing around the first team at Newcastle as well.

He'll almost certainly take Sawyers slot on the left side of a back three, so that is a nailed-on upgrade for that position.

On the face of it a really good signing.

looks a good signing to me.

Newcastle captain

Late last week, Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles raved about the local defender during the first few days of training camp.

This is what Jamaal said about Kelland:

“We’ve been doing 1,500 meter runs, five times, as fast as we can.

“In fairness to the young lad, Kell Watts, he has just smashed everyone there and got the best time.

“My money was on Miggy but Kell has just blown everyone out of the water.

“He is a great pro, he is a great character and he understands his position. He understands he has got to reach a certain level.

“Some of the younger lads nowadays play a couple of games, get in the papers and think they have made it but Kell has been out on loan, he knows what it is like down at Stevenage and at Mansfield and he is always looking to improve his game.

“He is always talking to the senior players and he has got a great character.

“It is refreshing to see and he is pushing us. He is a great credit to the group.”

This is an excellent move for Watts and he should really help Plymouth who were promoted back to League One last season.

Looks very good.

Czarcasm wrote:

All the feedback from Mansfield and Newcastle fans is very positive on this lad. Was sniffing around the first team at Newcastle as well.

He'll almost certainly take Sawyers slot on the left side of a back three, so that is a nailed-on upgrade for that position.

On the face of it a really good signing.

Music to my fookin ears. I still can't understand why he was re signed tbh he was targeted all the time in league 2 and hell get slaughtered in league 1. This lad obviously isn't the finished article but he looks like a massive step up.

The defence needs a very significant upgrade from last season to avoid a swift return to the basement so hopefully a step in the right direction.

Welcome Kelland.