Alex Mowatt says contract negotiations have not started with Barnsley but he would be willing to sign a new deal.
The 23-year-old midfielder has made more starts for the Reds in the first six weeks of this season than he had in the 18 months after signing from Leeds United in January last year. His deal runs out at the end of the season and chief executive Gauthier Ganaye said last week that the club had made offers to several out-of-contract players.
Mowatt said: “It’s the start of the season and everyone is just focusing on football. It hasn’t really been brought up yet but I am sure it will as the season goes on. I would definitely like to stay here. I am playing here and enjoying it under the new manager.”
Mowatt was sent off on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers then, after making one appearance in the following campaign, was loaned out to Oxford United and watched the Reds’ relegation from afar.
While he struggled to hold down a regular starting position with Oxford in League One, he has been an ever-present for Barnsley at the same level, impressing in central midfield and helping to create several goals such as Saturday’s opener in the 1-1 draw with Walsall.
Mowatt, from Doncaster, said: “Getting sent off on your debut is not the best start. Then I went to Oxford which I enjoyed but I wanted to be back home and back playing for Barnsley. In the summer people were asking what I was going to do and I just said I wanted to play for Barnsley. The gaffer came in on the first day and said ‘everyone starts from scratch’ and that’s what I wanted to hear after coming back from a loan.
“I am really happy with the start to the season, as a team and personally. It’s the most I have enjoyed my football in about three years. Every day I come in happy and looking forward to the games.
"We want to keep the unbeaten run going as long as possible and get promotion but we’re just focusing on the next game and making sure we turn the draws we have had into wins. It felt like we had lost on Saturday after Walsall scored in the 88th minute (to draw 1-1). None of us were happy with the point.”
Mowatt is enjoying playing alongside Kenny Dougall. He said: “Kenny is a class player. He has started so well and didn’t need any time to settle into English football. We both like the defensive and attacking side so it has worked well so far. We talk to each other a lot in games and, if I go in for a challenge, I know he will be right behind me.”
