Watts relishing chance to play as central striker

Plymouth Argyle's Caleb Watts scored on his first appearance of the season for the third successive campaign

Caleb Watts said he is happy to play as a striker for as long as Plymouth Argyle need him.

Watts, who is better known as a midfielder, played at centre forward in the 3-1 League One loss to Barnsley, as the Pilgrims try to bolster their attacking roster.

The club are close to signing a first-choice striker, but with Bim Pepple injured last week and Owen Oseni deemed too inexperienced, Watts was selected.

Watts, who joined from Exeter City in May, impressed on his debut as he scored one goal, had a second controversially disallowed, and came close with a number of other efforts.

"I've played second striker before and I think one of my strengths is I'm really versatile," he told BBC Sport.

"I've got a skillset that can be effective in a lot of positions. I'm more effective in the 10 role... but if the team needs me to play up front, do a job, I'd love to.

"I had a great time out there. I enjoyed it, I scored a goal, should have had about four.

"The gaffer [Tom Cleverley] tweaked a few things for the game today, but if he needs me to play up there again, I'd be more than happy to."

Argyle cut a frustrated side at the end of their defeat as they felt a number of controversial calls went against them.

But Watts says the side - which has seen 12 first team players leave and 10 come in under new head coach Tom Cleverley - will begin to get better as they continue to gel.

"It's a frustrating way to start for sure. The boys are really frustrated back in the changing room," he added as Argyle prepare for a first away trip of the season to Bolton Wanderers next Saturday.

"But I think you can see how we're going to beat teams. There's moments in the stadium where we get a bit of pressure and you can feel it like we're going to score here.

"At 2-1 it looked like we were the only team that was going to win the game and it's a sloppy goal to concede and I think all the goals we conceded today were sloppy.

"But you watch the game and you can see that we'll be a dangerous team.

"You can see how aggressive we are, you can see how we win the ball and hopefully it clicks against Bolton, I'm sure it will.

"But I think the longer the season goes on the stronger we'll be and I think in a few more weeks and we'll be a real force to be reckoned with."