WITH Newcastle United set to run the rule over Kell Watts in pre-season, the defender is determined to make his case to the club’s coaching staff for the new Premier League season.

Having returned to the club for pre-season after a successful spell with Wigan Athletic winning promotion to the Championship, Watts was the only player to play 90 minutes in Newcastle’s 5-1 friendly win over Gateshead at the weekend.

Watts said: “It was brilliant. I got told before the game that I was playing 90 minutes. I think for me it was good. I’m happy with more minutes that I can get on the pitch and show the lads how much I’ve improved from my loan spell last year. (I wanted to) show the manager and staff, who I’ve just started working with, what I’ve got.”

The 22-year-old has been out on loan four times during his time in the Newcastle first-team with Stevenage, Mansfield, Plymouth Argyle and then last season with the Latics. The expectation was that the club will give him the green light to head out on loan again with Wigan reportedly keen to reunite with the defender for next season.

However, Watts is currently being tested out by Eddie Howe and the coaching staff in pre-season. He will be looking to make a case for a place in the first-team but will have competition in front of him in the shape of Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Jamal Lascelles. The hope for the defender is that last season’s loan spell is one that will stand him in good stead heading into the new season having become a League One winner with the Latics.

“I enjoyed my time at Wigan” Watts continued. “Winning the league is the best thing you can do in football. Winning trophies is what I want to do.

“Coming back here has been the same as every year. Get my head down, work as hard as I can. Take each as it comes, which I know is a cliché but that’s all I can do. Put my best foot forward, try not to overthink and play my best game.

“I’ve developed as a player from my first loan at 18 to now. I’ve played a lot of games now and that winning mentality at Wigan was brilliant but being back here has been brilliant. I’m enjoying working with the lads, the new staff and learning everyday so I can’t complain.”

Watts can consider himself to be a seasoned professional after reaching a century of competitive games in the EFL across his various loan spells. However, he has only made one substitute appearance for Newcastle in the Premier League.

Watts added: “Thinking back to my loan spell to this last one, I’m well into my 100 (appearances) now playing professionally. I’m a much more confident centre half and going away to Wigan, getting that medal and getting that promotion, it’s something I will always remember.

“You can’t take that away from me but I just want to kick on and see where that takes me.”

Meanwhile, Ciaran Clark is heading for the Newcastle exit door with a host of Championship clubs monitoring his situation. Reports suggest Clark is set for a loan move to Sheffield United.