Centre-half Mattie Pollock is pleased to be staying to fight for what he’s always wanted: a starting berth in the Watford FC first-team.
With Hornets’ Head Coach Valérien Ismaël earlier today confirming none of his senior squad would be leaving between now and the February 1 winter transfer window deadline, the 22-year-old can now look to put some further impressive displays in a yellow shirt against his name after a fine performance during Sunday’s FA Cup round four draw at home to Southampton.
“Sunday was the first time I felt I’d stepped out at home properly,” explained the defender, referencing the expectancy of a cut-and-thrust cup tie in front of a decent-sized Vicarage Road gate, as opposed to fleeting chances before against lower-division cup opposition.
“Playing in front of our fans was massive for me and it gave me a great feeling.”
Pollock added: “It also gave me a good chance to clear my name a bit with what happened last season at Millwall. That’s lived with me since that day.
“To put that to bed and show people what I can actually do was really important. Now I want to push on and repay a bit of the faith that the fans wanted to show me.”
A graduate of the Middlesbrough academy where he grew up on Teesside, the defender – who’s enjoyed successful loan spells at both Cheltenham Town and Aberdeen – was keen to clarify his desire to represent the club where he’s been since summer 2021.
“I stand by what I said a couple of years ago when I joined: that I’m desperate to play for Watford. They took me on at a time when having some certainty was very welcome,” noted Pollock.
“But if I was going to continue to be in a situation where I wasn’t playing, then I wanted to look after my career by perhaps taking up an opportunity elsewhere.
“Now, though, I feel I’ve got that opportunity here to show what I can do and keep the shirt, then 100 per cent there’s no place better I want to be than here.
“I love Watford and I want to be a big part of this season going forward.”
