WHATEVER happened to Tony Watt? It was only at the end of last week that we asked this question and provided us with a great insight into the Bhoy from Coatbridge who very briefly shone brightly as a Celtic Star.
You can read this wonderful piece HERE.
That winning goal against Barcelona took Watt to heights that few Celtic players ever achieved. It was a dream goal from a young player living the dream, but as each news story emerges about Tony Watt, you get the sense that his career in the game is turning into a bit of a personal nightmare.
Today Tony Watt is back in the news. He has left Belgium side Oud-Heverlee Leuven after failing to get match time and is now heading back to Scotland in search of the TENTH club of his career.
Watt signed for the Belgian Second Division only last summer on a one year deal with the option of an extra season. However he failed to force his way into the side after the ex-Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson became the club’s new boss last September.
Now the former Celtic striker has taken to social media to reveal that he has quit Oud-Heverlee Leuven and will return home.
“One chapter closed. Another one opens,” he wrote.
“Thank you @ohl_official for the time I spent! Unfortunately I never played much football when the new manager came in but we left it on good terms. That’s football. I’ll have time to see my next step now!”
He added in subsequent post: “I’m predicting some negativity so I’ll delete the Twitter app for 48 hours troops have a good one! Back to Scotland now.”
Celtic signed Watt from Airdrie for £80,000 in January 2011. He got of to a great start in the Hoops, scoring twice on his debut against Motherwell. He looked comfortable playing for such a big club as Celtic and scored another fine goal to round off a great personal performance in an emphatic away win against St Mirren.
He looked like he had the footballing world at his feet after his goal was enough to defeat the mighty Barcelona in an unforgettable 2-1 win for Celtic in the Champions League.
Watt has tried and failed to get his career moving in the right direct at clubs like Lierse and Standard Liege in Belgium, Charlton, Cardiff, Blackburn Rovers and Hearts.
It just never seems to work out for the player who had such a composed finish on the biggest stage imaginable on that memorable night.
We wish him well in his search for a new club.
I think the general feeling among Celtic fans is that they want Tony Watt to succeed; to fulfil his undoubted early potential. With each transfer, this is seeming less and less likely. Where does he go from here?