Boro's Duncan Watmore on his work ethic, learning from Jamie Vardy and worldy goals

Last season's top scorer has become a regular in the side under Chris Wilder and has scored three goals this season. 

Watmore reveals all about whether he will further his studies, whether his spell at Boro has been the best of his career and learning from Jamie Vardy. 

What does the future look like for Duncan Watmore?

“I never look too far into the future because of what's happened in the past. I don't take it for granted. As soon as I start thinking how many games am I going to play or how many goals am I going to score or how can I help the team in six months time or whatever, I know how quickly it can be taken away.

“With my injury record I don't take anything for granted. I focus game to game. I still have to manage my knee. That's part of my life. When I'm playing a lot it's something I need to do, that's just part of my body and I cant control that.

“But I'm really happy. I'm getting out there on the pitch and playing as much as I can. Sometimes I can't and my body will tell me that because of everything I've been through, my knee does react. I'd be lying if I said it doesn't.

“But because of that I don't look too far forward, I don't take too much for granted and focus on the next game.”

How do you see you striking partnership with Andraz Sporar?

“I get on really well with him. I've been enjoying playing with him. He's a very talented player, has achieved a lot, played for various big clubs. He's got a lot of talent and good to play with and a good footballing brain. I'm enjoying that partnership.

“Some of the coaches put on the sessions where we're together and we work on that link.

“But obviously off the pitch we speak to each other a lot, after training or before games, getting an understanding of what we want from each other on and off the ball.

“Obviously on the ball is really important but off the ball is a crucial part of the game, how we press, how we defend from the front.

“That's something I've always been big on in my game, with my running and movement and defending as well.”

You’ve recently completed a Masters degree, do you intend on studying further?

“I don't know. Sometimes I get tempted to do some more. I finished my masters a year and a bit ago.

“After a year of not doing something, sometimes I think about doing some more because I do enjoy it.

“But right now I'm just focusing on my football. I couldn't give you any definite answers for now.”

Do the players think you are the sharpest tool in the box when it comes to Middlesbrough?

“I think they might consider me that but I don’t know if I consider myself that.

“Footballers, academically, always have to give up so much from a young age to make it in the football industry. I had quite a unique route.

“Lads are just very switched on people. I think you have to be to make it because there’s a lot of game intelligence involved and football intelligence but also off the pitch as well.

“You’ve got to be switched on to be as good as you can be so I always think that lads are more intelligent the stereotype gives them credit for.”

Do you think that sometimes gets lost in translation in the media?

“I don’t know if it’s because of this but there isn’t that opportunity to study these days because lads have to give up so much.

“Clubs are taking kids out of school when they are 12 and missing quite a few days a week so that’s very young.

“It’s hard to keep up your studies while you are trying to give everything in football and so many people are trying to make it in football, you have to kind of give that your full attention.

“It’s a hard balance. I was quite unique and lucky in that I came to football a bit later so I could give my full attention to my studies which helped.

“The way the system is, it’s hard for lads to have that same level of education that they want because they would have to give up so much football. They are really switched on lads.”

You’ve scored a couple of worldy goals this season for Boro. That must be a source of pride?

“I always like scoring good goals.

“I enjoy my one against Huddersfield last season as well so I’ve enjoyed a couple of good ones in the last few months. I do enjoy scoring good goals.

“I want to keep adding the simple ones to my game as well because that’s what really adds the numbers up but the most important thing is to help the team get the result and if that helps to do that then brilliant.

“Probably my (favourite goals was the) one against Huddersfield last season. I enjoyed the one against Huddersfield this season as well.”

You’ve spent 13 months at Middlesbrough, would you say it’s the best football of your career?

“I think it’s definitely up there.

“I think before I did my first knee injury at Sunderland, when I was playing England Under-21’s and in the Premier League, I think I was playing really well then.

“Since my knee injury five years ago and then obviously all the troubles after that, this is definitely the best I’ve felt since then.

“It’s been quite a long road to get here. It’s still not perfect my knee by any stretch of the imagination but it’s allowed me to get through games and be where I want to be.

“I’m very grateful and I’ve been enjoying my football.”

Fans appreciate your hard work and energy. Where does that come from?

“It’s always been something that’s been instilled in me. It’s always something I’ve had.

“I’ve always wanted to work hard for the team and fitness is always something I’ve worked really hard on personally.

“I’ve always been a fit guy. In cross countries in school, I won a few of them. I have always had a lot of stamina and it’s always something I’ve worked on to keep and maintain and improve because I do think it adds a lot to my game.

“I think it adds a lot to the team which is important I think. As I said, I think energy, on and off the ball, is really important to the team.

“Even if I’m not having my best game, that’s just the nature of football. Sometimes I’ll be good and sometimes I might not be.

“The least you can get out of yourself is hard work and some energy for the team and pressing and still causing them problems that way.

“That’s my philosophy. That’s the only thing I can control. You can’t control performance but you can control your effort and output so that’s what I always try and give and anything else is an added bonus.”

Your injury at the start of the season meant you were down the pecking order. You’ve managed to work your way back into the team?

“I'm a big believer in staying patient. The way it is, you'll be in and out of the team, especially the position I play and with my knee.

“I have always historically been in and out of the team so it's something I'm used to. I like to be in the team but when I'm not I know how to stay patient, to do the right things and your chance will come.

“That's my philosophy and if I find myself in that position again I'll stay patient and do the right things.”

You can see in warm-ups that you work through attacking drills?

“We do work on patterns of play and how to exploit weaknesses in maybe the opposition defence or where we can find the most space or what is the best strategy to get in behind.

“It's something we are working on. Even the other day, we did a video analysis with the forwards looking how Jamie Vardy moves and gets behind defences and how effective he is.

“There are always ways you can learn. I enjoy learning and growing my game and trying to get in these positions and work on these patterns of play and it's very rewarding when it comes off like it did against Huddersfield.”

Do you set yourself any goals targets at the start of the season?

“I honestly won't set any, not because I don't have any but I'm best when I focus one game at a time.

“I just focus on performances and contributing to the team. If I'm not scoring but the team is winning, I'm happy to play that role. I just focus on each game and being the best I can be for the team.”