Source: Team_Talk
Watson targets European place
Keith Watson is plotting an unusual route from East Fife to Europe after winning back his place at Dundee United.[LNB] The 20-year-old defender has recovered from three years of injury problems, which saw him dislocate his kneecaps twice and undergo a number of operations.[LNB]Watson was farmed out to Stevie Crawford's Second Division outfit for six games before coming back to Tannadice a few weeks ago.[LNB]With Mihael Kovacevic picking up an injury against Rangers in the Scottish Cup, Watson stepped in to make an impressive display during Saturday's 3-0 win over Motherwell, which kept United in third place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.[LNB]The right-back, who will keep his place at Hibernian, said: "When I was playing at East Fife a few weeks ago I didn't think I'd be back here at United getting my chance so quickly.[LNB]"East Fife were great to me, going there allowed me to play competitive football again. It was just what I needed.[LNB]"After all the injuries it was important to get games under my belt and get my confidence back up again.[LNB]"I can't thank Stevie Crawford and the lads there enough. They made me really welcome and the whole experience was brilliant.[LNB]"It's amazing to think I could go from playing for East Fife to being in Europe inside the space of a few months."[LNB]Watson, described by former manager Craig Levein as the best prospect he had encountered, saw his planned debut against Celtic wrecked when he broke down during the warm-up almost three years ago.[LNB]He said: "The club have been brilliant throughout my whole injury problem.[LNB]"So I'd love to repay everyone by doing my bit between now and the end of the season.[LNB]"The club were patient with me, they paid for all my surgery and they gave me a lot of support.[LNB]"After what has happened over the last three years I appreciate football so much more."[LNB]United need a result to keep third spot after Hibernian bounced back from their derby defeat by Hearts and a Scottish Cup exit at Ross County by winning 3-1 at Falkirk on Saturday.[LNB]Manager Hughes had claimed his team were too "soft" to "win ugly" but midfielder John Rankin is confident they will prove their doubters wrong.[LNB]"The spirit here is fantastic," Rankin said. "We had that determination about us on Saturday.[LNB]"The dressing room was quiet but we had that determination within ourselves to say 'we're not going to lose today'.[LNB]"There is definitely room for improvement but we might need to grind some results out before the end of the season.[LNB]"We rolled the sleeves up and got three points and we might need to do that again."
