The Review: David Watson may not be at Kilmarnock for much longer... they should enjoy him while they can

If ever a goal summed up David Watson’s hunger to succeed, it was his opener against St Mirren at Rugby Park on Saturday.

The Kilmarnock midfielder bust a gut to be first into the visitors’ box so that, when Bruce Anderson’s shot was parried by the goalkeeper, he could pounce on the loose ball.

Watson’s third goal of the season, his second in four games, put Kilmarnock on their way to a second consecutive victory and underlined his burgeoning reputation.

Make no mistake: Watson is one of Scotland’s best young players. He has quality, strength and, perhaps most importantly, the kind of attitude and controlled aggression that supporters love. All in all, it is an exciting package.

Still only 20, he has a big future ahead of him, one in which he has the chance to become a Scotland regular. Don’t be surprised if he is in there with Lennon Miller and Ben Gannon Doak one day.

The question right now is how long he will remain with Kilmarnock and whether they will be suitably rewarded for developing a player who first trained with them at the age of seven.

This is the final year of his contract, which means he is free to talk to potential suitors in January. There will be plenty of them, especially if he is soon to become a free agent.

While the English Championship would be an obvious destination, it has been suggested that Hearts, managed by former Killie boss Derek McInnes, might fancy their chances.

The irony is that McInnes used Watson only sparingly last season. His reluctance to start him in a Kilmarnock team that was going stale frustrated many supporters.

By contrast, Stuart Kettlewell, who succeeded McInnes in the summer, has been praised for giving young players a chance. Watson is the fulcrum of his side, 18-year-old Ben Brennan is being allowed to flourish and there are high hopes also for Ethan Brown, the 20-year-old who made his debut in August.

Together, they have freshened up the Ayrshire side and provided a lift that has taken them all the way to third in the Premiership. In 13 matches this season, they have lost only once in normal time - and that was thanks to Celtic’s controversial late penalty.

Kettlewell’s appointment didn’t go down especially well, but he is winning round the critics. If he can persuade Watson to sign a new contract, it will be another feather in the manager’s cap.

It wouldn’t keep Watson at Rugby Park in the long term, but it would ensure that, when he does leave, he earns the club a decent transfer fee. Until then, the message to supporters is clear: enjoy him while you can.