Alex Mowatt is hoping to emulate his former coach and mentor Neil Redfearn by inspiring Barnsley to promotion this season.
The 24-year-old central midfielder is set to make his 50th league appearance for the Reds tonight against his hometown club Doncaster Rovers. He began his career at Leeds United, where his coach in the academy then the first team was Redfearn who captained Barnsley to the Premiership in 1997.
Mowatt told the Chronicle: “Redders is a legend here and when we came to play here as under 18s the fans would queue up to get his signature. If I can do half as well as he did then I will be happy. I still speak to him quite often and he’s always giving me tips. He always keeps an eye on Barnsley.”
Mowatt has scored five goals this season, mainly from outside the box like his 30-yard strike against Scunthorpe United which won the league’s Goal of the Month award for February. All of his goals this season have been at Oakwell and he admits it would be sweet to score at the Keepmoat Stadium tonight.
“I would love to score there because I’ve never done it before. I have been after an away goal and hopefully I can get one soon then a few more before the end of the season. We think Doncaster were one of the best teams we played this season, if not the best. Both teams like to play football and it should be a good game on TV.
“It’s a derby game and massive with where we are in the league. I have told the players we need to win because it’s my hometown. For me it’s bigger than a normal game and I will have a lot of friends and family there.”
Mowatt signed for Barnsley from Leeds in January 2017 then was sent off on his debut and loaned out to Oxford United last season as the Reds were being relegated from the Championship. But he has been an ever-present this season, starting every League One match for the side currently in the second automatic promotion position and earning a new contract.
Mowatt has been playing alongside Kenny Dougall this week with usual partner Cameron McGeehan suspended along with Jacob Brown while top-scorer Kieffer Moore is out for the season with a head injury.
“The players who have come in have done really well. We are missing big players but we’re a good group and we’ve come together and got through it. That’s the best thing about Kenny, nothing fazes him. “He’s so calm on the ball. He’s come in and done really well. You always feel safe with Kenny in there with you.”
