The centre-back is currently plying his trade at League One promotion hopefuls Wigan on a season-long loan from Newcastle.
Watts, who started for the Latics in their goalless draw away at Burton Albion in a league game on Tuesday, made a heroic clearance in the dying minutes of the game to deny the home team a win, helping his side to a point on the road.
And the 24-year-old admitted that he did not know what was really happening as he headed the ball clear off the goal, while all of his team-mates were scrambling back to help to keep their clean sheet intact.
However, Watts stressed that as he was going to head the ball, he thought he would rather hit the crossbar and get knocked out than concede a goal.
“I don’t really know what happened”, Watts told Latics TV while reflecting on his impressive clearance.
“It was in the 90-plus minute mark and everyone was running back.
“It was all last-ditch – and it can be like that in the last minute – and I’ve seen everyone run to try and block the goal.
“I thought I’d run back [to the goal] and thankfully I got my head to it.
“I thought if I hit the crossbar and I’m knocked out, I’d rather do that [than concede]!”.
Following a period of playing a squad role in the team, Watts has now started three games on the trot for Wigan and will hope to clock up maximum minutes in the remaining games of this season before heading back to Newcastle.
