Why Tommy Watson chose Millwall - Derby County, Stoke City and Preston wanted deal | OneFootball

On-loan winger Tommy Watson has revealed why he decided to join Millwall from Brighton over a number of other Championship sides

Millwall are hoping to finally achieve a first-ever promotion to the Premier League under Alex Neil this season following a series of finishes just outside of the play-offs, with the Lions now looking increasingly likely to complete the campaign inside the top-six.

Indeed, there is every chance that Millwall could even secure an automatic promotion slot, which would perhaps represent one of the great Championship shocks in recent years.

Currently positioned third with 56 points to their name and fourteen fixtures now to spare, Millwall are just five points shy of second-placed Middlesbrough and six behind league leaders Coventry City and, though Ipswich Town are two points off but with two crucial games still in hand, the race for the top-two is wide open and the Lions have the right to fancy their chances in what remains of this term.

Nonetheless, their top-six position is enforced by an eight-point margin at this moment in time ahead of Saturday's home fixture against Portsmouth, having won four of their last six encounters to gain further traction in pursuit of promotion.

Millwall's aspirations were also boosted by eye-catching activity in the mid-season transfer window, which saw Neil and co recruit quality over quantity by poaching Sheffield Wednesday midfield icon Barry Bannan alongside Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson on loan from Sunderland - with the pair having played instrumental roles in the Black Cats' own promotion through the Championship play-offs less than twelve months prior.

Tommy Watson reveals why he chose Millwall over Derby County, Stoke City and Preston

The late loan addition of Watson was a particularly-impressive one for Millwall, who fended off no shortage of second-tier competition to land the winger's sought-after services from Brighton for the remainder of the campaign.

Linked with the likes of Derby County, Stoke City and Preston North End, the winger's stock remains high following his breakout season at the Stadium of Light last time out, in which he stepped into the first-team and scored a heroic 95th-minute winner to guide Sunderland back to the Premier League against Sheffield United in the play-off final - having already agreed a £10 million switch to Brighton and Hove Albion by this point.

Watson has, quite naturally, found regular minutes difficult to come by on the south coast to date, making 10 appearances across all competitions before completing a temporary move to Millwall.

He will now be eager to show his parent club exactly what he can do, and has opened up on precisely why he elected to join the Lions over alternative suitors.

The 19-year-old was impressed Millwall's ambitions and plans after undertaking conversations with Neil and director of football Steve Gallen, while he also outlined the Scotsman's transition-focused style as an approach which suits his game down to the ground.

Watson explained: "There were a lot of options at the start of the window - Millwall being one of them.

"I didn’t know whether I was going to be allowed out on loan from Brighton, and then I think probably midway through the window, it became an option.

"Then once that happened, seeing Millwall was an option, even before I spoke to the manager and Steve, it was really attractive given the position we were in the league and the games coming up. Then once I spoke with Steve and the gaffer, I just made my mind up.

"The gaffer already knew exactly what I was like as a player, and he showed me how I was going to fit into the team. They showed ambition with what we’re going to achieve this season.

"I also think the style of play really suits my game. I could’ve gone to a club where they were dominant in possession and control games, but this style of play suits me more. This will get the best out of me in transitions, and also I will be able to work on the defensive side of my game as well."

Tommy Watson could be a game-changing signing for Millwall

Watson has appeared from the bench in each of his opening two outings against Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday.

However, considering the infrequency of his involvement with Brighton this season, a natural period of time to adjust and get up to speed was always going to be in order - though Watson has already caught the eye and will be hoping to lock down a starting berth for the end-of-season run-in.

There's still plenty of football to be played, and Watson has proven himself to be a player capable of orchestrating a game-changing influence when it matters most.

That's crucial for where Millwall are in the league and where they are striving to end up, while the Sunderland academy product's profile brings a new profile to the Lions' ranks - be that as a starter or an impact substitute from the bench with his explosive speed, direct running and trickery.

There is, of course, a clear reason why other sides in and around the top-six courted Watson's signature in January, and one would suspect it won't be long before he shows Millwall why they should be so fortunate to have won the race.