Alex Mowatt is looking forward to facing his former club in the first match of the season tomorrow as he looks to make a better start than he has for Barnsley in his two previous campaigns at Oakwell.
The 23-year-old central midfielder was sent off on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers just days after signing from Leeds United in January last year. He then played in the first match of last season, a harrowing 3-1 loss at Bristol City, which remains his last league action for the club as he was then loaned out to League One Oxford United for the rest of the campaign.
Mowatt scored three goals in 34 matches for the Us, who visit Oakwell tomorrow for the curtain-raiser. He has impressed for Barnsley in pre-season and in expected to start tomorrow.
Mowatt said: "When I was looking at the fixtures, I was waiting to see when we would play Oxford and it came out first. There are a lot of new players from last season. The manager (Karl Robinson) is very good and they have a good fanbase. It will be a good first game back at Oakwell."
Loaned-out Mowatt was helpless as Barnsley were relegated from the Championship in his absence last season. He said: "It was a little bit strange watching last season from afar. I was following the results every week. But that's gone now, we have to put it behind us and try to get promoted this season. It has been good to see all the boys after a full year away. It's a big season for me, the last one of my contract. I just want to play as many games as I can and help the team get promoted."
Mowatt has been impressed by new head coach Daniel Stendel. He said: "I have enjoyed him. He's energetic and he's putting his style of play into us."
