Former Celtic attacker Rocco Vata netted his first senior goal for Watford last night after joining the English Championship side in the summer.
The 19-year-old headed south of the border after he didn’t renew his contract with the Hoops.
Vata was given limited first-team opportunities at Celtic, playing just 29 competitive minutes across all competitions last campaign, scoring once in a Scottish Cup tie against Buckie Thistle.
Like fellow academy bhoy Daniel Kelly, Vata didn’t renew his deal at Parkhead and instead took his career to England’s second tier.
The Irish youth international has registered 12 senior appearances in his first few months at his new club, and his maiden goal finally came last night.
Watford faced bottom-of-the-table Hull City away from home in an English Championship tie, in which Vata netted late on to salvage a point for his team.
Chris Bedia thought he won it for the hosts with eight to play, but the young attacker stepped up in the 88th minute to earn a draw for Watford, sweeping home from inside the box:
Rocco Vata’s first goal for Watford to equalise against Hull City!🇮🇪💚 pic.twitter.com/bY3icgbZoc
— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) December 11, 2024
This season’s version of Vata appears to be Daniel Cummings. The striker is flying for Celtic’s B team, but his contract expires at the end of the season.
There is heightened interest from several clubs in the teenager, whose future is up in the air. It remains to be seen whether he will follow Vata’s example or stay and challenge for a first-team place at Celtic.
