Gems of the Lower Leagues: Danny Graham

Just Football’s ‘Gems of the Lower Leagues’ series continues now with a look at the Championship striker currently banging in the goals for Watford. Making his JF debut, we welcome James McMath:

Danny Graham is the Championship’s joint top-scorer and an integral part of a Watford team whose attacking prowess has seen them make an unlikely challenge for promotion. But things haven’t always been so rosy for the 25-year-old North Easterner.

Graham’s tally of 15 league goals so far this season has been matched only by Jay Bothroyd – whose form was rewarded with an England call-up – and puts him ahead of headline-grabbers such as Adel Taarabt and Kris Commons. Possessing good mobility and an even greater work ethic, 6ft 1ins Graham fits in perfectly with the way Malky Mackay has the Hornets playing – they are positive, dynamic and easy on the eye.

Graham is decent in the air, holds the ball up well and, as he has proved in his past four seasons, is becoming an increasingly clinical finisher.

A stuttering start at Middlesbrough

Graham’s ascent to the upper reaches of the second tier has been steep and demanding.

In four years with Middlesbrough, his first club, the Gateshead-born front man was restricted largely to substitute appearances. He started only two games and scored two goals. In May 2006 he started alongside the likes of Adam Johnson, Lee Cattermole and James Morrison in a team that included 10 “local lads” as Middlesbrough fielded the youngest side in Premier League history.

They went down 1-0 at home to Fulham in Steve McLaren’s last league game before taking over as England manager. But Graham’s spell at the Riverside was punctuated with a series of unsuccessful loan moves to Darlington, Derby, Leeds and Blackpool.

He was handed what was to be his last Premier League appearance with Middlesbrough in November 2006 in – a 2-0 defeat at Watford.

A final loan spell to Carlisle United in 2007 came just in the nick of time for Graham, who impressed at Brunton Park, scoring seven goals in 11 League One appearances.

On the up with Carlisle

After moving on a free transfer, Graham hit the ground running with the Cumbrians, scoring in his second game since becoming a permanent signing. He went on to top the club’s scoring charts for the 2007-08 season with 17 goals in all competitions, including the League One play-off semi-finals where Carlisle were beaten by Leeds United.

Graham maintained his form a season later, scoring 16 goals. Carlisle, however, did not and finished the campaign fifth-bottom of the division.

Graham’s goals caught the eye and, having failed to agree a new contract with Carlisle, he moved on a free transfer to Watford in the summer of 2009, when he became one of Malky Mackay’s first recruits after taking over from Brendan Rogers.

Creating a buzz

Graham scored his first goal for Watford on the opening day of the 2009-10 season and went on to be the club’s top scorer that season with 14.

After a mid-season flirt with the play-offs, the Hornets, who included loan duo Tom Cleverley and Henri Lansbury from Manchester United and Arsenal, were hit by a dip in form before finishing the season in 17th place.

This season, the goals have continued to flow and Graham has already hit 18 in all competitions, including an impressive brace at Loftus Road in December, when Makay’s men beat Championship leaders QPR 3-1 on their own patch.

Graham also has four assists to his name and has formed a potent partnership with academy product Marvin Sordell as Watford have gunned their way into the play-off picture.

Graham has reached double figures in each of the past four seasons and it has not gone unnoticed.

Speculation of interest from top-flight clubs and Championship rivals has been aplenty and Makay spent much of the January transfer window fielding questions over his prized asset’s future.

It’s testament to how far Graham has come in the four years since leaving Middlesbrough. What they wouldn’t give to have his goals now.

James McMath is a new contributor to Just Football. Follow him on Twitter @MrJamesMcMath.

(photo by Don McDougall on Flickr)

Danny Graham, English Championship, Football League, Gems of the Lower Leagues, Watford FC