Former Kilmarnock loanee Daniel Bachmann has commented on his Watford ambitions and Kilmarnock spell.
The Austrian spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Rugby Park. He was brilliant for the Ayrshire club as they went on to secure European football for the first time since 2001.
Killie had an epic 2018/19 campaign. (Photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Now back with his parent club in London, Bachmann has set his sights on the Watford first-team now that the Hornets won’t let him go, whilst also reflecting on his Killie spell.
He told Austrian publication SPOX: “They will not let me go, they are 99 per cent sure about it, and there are still a few discussions going on. My full focus is on Watford. This year my goal is quite different, I want to play, the club knows that too.
“You can not guarantee that I’m the number one at the beginning but I’ll keep working on my goals. (At Kilmarnock) in the end, the season was not so bad, and I’m positive that I will prevail over the next few months.”
Bachmann has Kilmarnock to thank for any Watford success
The potential is there for the Austrian to make his Premier League break shortly. Experienced pair Ben Foster, who’s 36, and Heurelho Gomes, who’s 38, are the only two above him in the pecking order at Vicarage Road.
The Austrian performed well last term. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Foster is a brilliant keeper, so Bachmann may find himself as backup this year. He knows he’ll have to be patient, but this might be a good year to learn from an experienced Premier League stopper.
He’s 25 now though and with his contract expiring next year, he’ll need to leave his mark sooner rather than later.
Any success he has in the future he owes in some respect to Killie. They offered him more senior minutes than anyone ever has, allowing him to express his good shot stopping, decent handling and distribution skills.
A decent stopper. (photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)
His Killie spell has probably saved his Watford career. If he had another indifferent spell away from the Premier League outfit, they would likely look to move him on this summer.
All Killie fans will hope his Ayrshire spell has given Bachmann the platform to make a name for himself in England after a fruitful SPFL stint.