‘We didn’t think he was a player who would be available’ – Millwall manager Rowett on landing Boro attacker Watmore

Millwall manager Gary Rowett has talked to the South London Press about adding Middlesbrough’s Duncan Watmore to his playing ranks.

The 28-year-old was due to be a free agent with the Teessiders at the end of this season.

But Watmore, who broke on to the scene as an exciting prospects at Sunderland, has now made a permanent switch to Millwall. The Lions have not revealed the length of contract.

Watmore scored 21 times in 97 appearances for Boro and previously bagged eight goals in 87 games for the Black Cats.

He needs just two more appearances to hit the 100 milestone in the Championship.

Rowett said: “Middlesbrough have changed formation and he has probably played a little less football. But he has still been one of their first subs off the bench and still started games for them. He has done really well, he’s scored five goals before Christmas – that equates to double figures over the course of a season.

“That is exactly the type of player that we’re looking to bring in, someone who can play wide or play a little more central. Someone who can score goals and adds a lot of other qualities – he’s hard-working, he’s a runner, he’s a really honest player with really good skill levels.

“He fits what we want in the group. We’re a hard-working team. We’re going to press, we’re going to chase and we’re going to harry – make it uncomfortable for teams, if we can. Duncan fits all those parameters and adds to the potential of goals.

“Burkey (Oliver Burke) is the same. It gives us real flexibility. He’s a player I think we didn’t think would be available but once we found out he was then it was a very easy conversation.

“Duncan is out of contract in the summer and so has to look to his own future as well. It works, it’s fell into place really nicely. Hopefully he can also have a really positive impact for us.”

Watmore scored nine goals in 30 Championship matches for Boro in the 2020-21 season.

“That would have been pretty similar to someone like Jed for us last season,” said Rowett. “We spoke about goals from different areas of the pitch and also adding goals in this window.

“I don’t think it is easy to go and add a goalscorer that is absolutely going to guarantee that. So Duncan, from a wider position, has got really good numbers in those aspects.

“The signings fit the profile of the team, they fit the character of the team as well – that is sometimes something that goes unnoticed. We had to do a lot of work on all of those aspects.”