Watts targeting promotion with Argyle

For Caleb Watts, a fourth season in Sky Bet League One is on the horizon, and Argyle’s newest signing intends to maintain his continued development. 

He spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Morecambe, playing 23 times for the Shrimps in the third tier. Then, having been released by parent club Southampton, he joined Exeter City, and became increasingly important to the Grecians in their last two League One campaigns. 

Now, the 23-year-old has swapped East Devon for West and, as Argyle prepare to attempt to get promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, he is excited to be part of it. 

“It feels good,” said Caleb, in his first interview having signed the deal. “It's clearly a massive club. As soon as I heard they were interested, I was keen. 

“I think it is more exciting to go to a club that wanted to get you done early doors. You get to plan, and you can enjoy a bit more knowing there's something to go back to. 

“I’ve spent the last three years in League One. I think I've improved my performance, year-on-year, and how I measure up against other players. This is a year where I want to push on - and get out of this league really. I want this to be my last season in League One. I want to be promoted and be in the Championship the season following.

“Morecambe, to be fair, was a tough loan for me. I didn't play a whole lot. I didn't really know how to affect games. The following season, at Exeter, I had a few issues with injury and then the season just gone, I think I really found myself really. 

“I figured out how to manage myself through a season, play as many games as I could, as well as impacting what works at the level, and what will get me picked ultimately. That's been the biggest learning curve for me really. 

“I feel like I'm starting to learn where the goals are, where the assists are, and, in a team which hopefully is going to be dominating in games, I think that's going to be really valuable. 

“Last year was a big season for me in terms of contributing regularly to a team and being an important member of it. I'm ready to do the same in a team that's fighting to get promoted. 

“It's a club that wants to be in the Championship; I want to be in the Championship. The manager, the style of play that he plays, I think it suits me a lot: high pressing, high energy. 

“Every conversation I had with a member [of staff] here was just full of optimism and ambition. I think that lines up with my values and what I want to do really well. 

“It was a lot about how much energy I can bring to the team, how I'm an attacking midfielder, so pitching in with goals and assists, in the system that we're going to play.

“A lot to do with how aggressive I am. As the fans will see, I love a tackle and I love to get the crowd going. Hopefully that will fit really well into what they're doing here.”