Tommy Watson will soon be back in the reckoning for a first-team slot at Sunderland after a potentially big money move to Brighton fell through.

The Black Cats academy gem is believed to have been the subject of a £13million bid from the Seagulls which Sunderland rejected.
It led to fans praising the club for keeping their star players for their Championship promotion push.

Watson’s transfer saga was arguably one of the biggest stories in the Championship on deadline day. And one of the pundits to have his say on the matter was ex-Sunderland forward Marco Gabbiadini.

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Young players moving to the Premier League, doesn’t always work and some end up playing development football which is a step backwards.

Watson has enjoyed a taste of senior football now and with 10 Championship appearances for Sunderland, and two goals to his name, he will want to push on.

Speaking on Total Sport, Gabbiadini has urged Watson to think about the positives, which is getting game time at Sunderland.

He said: “It’s a fine balancing act with these kinds of deals. The player is trying to get some security in his career, and a deal at a big club that would probably change his life completely.

“But at the same time, where’s he going to play more minutes? I think it’ll definitely be at Sunderland, and that will be a real positive for him as well.”

Watson is on his way back from injury and he will take time getting up to match speed. He took over from Romaine Mundle when he got injured and performed well before he too ended up on the treatment table.

With Mundle due back again soon there will be more competition for places. Enzo Le Fee was used out wide against Middlesbrough, and put in a man of the match performance, but prefers to play more central.