Alex Mowatt

Alex Mowatt

Mowatt in action for Leeds United versus Cardiff City in November 2014.
Personal information
Full nameAlex James Mowatt[1]
Date of birth13 February 1995
Place of birthDoncaster, South Yorkshire; England
Height1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Leeds United
Number27
Youth career
2004–2013Leeds United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2013–Leeds United65(10)
National team‡
2014England U191(0)
2015-England U201(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:00, 18 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:14, 25 March 2015 (UTC)

Alex James Mowatt (born 13 February 1995, England) is a footballer who plays for English Championship club Leeds United as a Central Midfielder, but can also play as a winger. He is a England U20 international.

Club career

After playing for junior club Bentley Pumas Doncaster, Mowatt's talents were recognized by Leeds in 2003 and Mowatt was signed to Leeds United's academy at the age of 9.[2] After progressing through Leeds youth ranks, including Captaining Leeds Under 18's, Mowatt signed a professional deal at Leeds.[2] Mowatt captained Leeds Under 18's team managed by Richard Naylor and led the Under 18's to win the Under 18 League Championship during the 2012/13 season. Yorkshire Evening Post's Phil Hay said that Mowatt's performances and style of play was reminiscent to a young Barry Ferguson.[3]

After his impressive performances in the academy and Neil Redfearn's Development Squad, Mowatt broke into the Leeds team during the 2013/14 season during the pre-season training with the first team. Mowatt was named on the bench for Leeds' first team in a 2–1 win against Chesterfield in the League Cup.[4]

On 27 August 2013, Mowatt made his debut for Leeds when he started his first professional game in Leeds 3–1 victory against Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup.[5][6] After the match, Leeds manager Brian McDermott praised Mowatt's performance.[7]

Mowatt was given his second start for Leeds in the match against Newcastle United in the League Cup, with Mowatt putting in another impressive performance despite a 2–0 loss for Leeds.[8] Mowatt's performance was rewarded when he was named in the starting lineup to make his league debut in a 2–0 defeat away to Millwall.[9] On 5 December 2013, Mowatt signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with the club.[10]

On 1 February 2014, only the day after the alleged sacking of the man who gave Mowatt his debut Brian McDermott, Mowatt scored his first goal for Leeds in a 5–1 victory against local rivals Huddersfield Town.[11]

Mowatt won the Leeds United Young Player of the Season Award at the clubs annual awards, on 2 May. He also finished third in the voting for the Fans Player Of The Year Award.[12]

2014–15 season

On 1 August, Mowatt was assigned the Leeds number 27 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[13] After picking up an injury against Birmingham City on 26 April 2014[14] after a long spell out injured.[15] Mowatt returned to the Leeds starting 11 making his first appearance of the season against Bolton Wanderers on 30 August 2014.[16]

On 13 September 2014 he scored his first league goal of the 2014/15 season against Birmingham City in a 1–1 draw.[17] Mowatt badly bruised his toe during the game which ruled him out of the following fixture against Bournemouth.[18] Mowatt followed this up with a goal in a 3–1 loss against Cardiff City on 1 November in Neil Redfearn's first game as permanent head coach,[19] in the following game on 4 November Mowatt scored a brace with 2 long range efforts in a 2–2 draw against Charlton Athletic.[20] After getting three goals and two assists in November, on 4 December Mowatt was shortlisted for the Championship’s player-of-the-month award.[21] But Mowatt lost out to Brentford's Andre Gray for the Championship’s player-of-the-month award for November.[22] Mowatt was handed The Football League’s Young Player of the Month award for November on 18 December 2014.[23] Mowatt's reputation increased further during 2015, with him scoring some important goals mostly from long range for Leeds.

He scored a freekick in a 1-0 win against Millwall on 14 February,[24] he followed this up with a long range strike in a 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough on 21 February.[25] He scored another freekick on 4 March in a 2-1 victory against Ipswich Town [26] before following this up with a right footed volley from outside the box in a 1-0 victory against Wigan Athletic on the 7 March.[27] His 9th goal of the season came on the 6 April in a 4-3 loss against Wolverhampton Wanderers with Mowatt scoring a curling long range effort.[28]

On 9 April, after rumoured Premier League interest in Mowatt and teamates Lewis Cook, Charlie Taylor and Sam Byram, Head Coach Neil Redfearn challenged Leeds United's owners to keep a hold of their home grown talents.[29]

International career

In October 2013, After being watched by England Under 21's manager Gareth Southgate against Birmingham City, Mowatt was called up to the England U19 for the fixture against Hungary in November.[30]

On 5 March 2014, Mowatt made his England U19 debut in a 3–0 victory against Turkey.[31]

Mowatt was watched by Scotland's assistant, Mark McGhee, during Leeds’ 2–0 defeat to Brighton on 24 February. Mowatt qualifies for Scotland through his father’s side of the family.[32]

On March 25, 2015, Mowatt was named on the subs bench for England U20 against Mexico, but didn't feature in the game. However, four days later Mowatt made his debut against the United States, completing 79 minutes of the match.[33]

Honours

(Individual):

Career statistics

As of 25 April 2015.[34]
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Play-offs Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow card A red card
2014–15 Leeds United Championship 37 9 0 0 0 0 – – 37 9 4 0
2013–14 Championship 29 1 0 0 2 0 – – 31 1 7 0
Total 66 10 0 0 2 0 0 0 68 10 11 0

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. May 2013. p. 19. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Midfielder Mowatt’s ready to stake claim". Yorkshire Evening Post. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Phil Hay: Budding young talent who give Leeds United hope for future". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "UNITED SECURE SECOND ROUND SPOT". Leeds United F.C. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  5. ↑ BBC Sport: Doncaster 1–3 Leeds
  6. ↑ Dews, Paul (28 August 2013). "THREE AND EASY CUP SUCCESS". LeedsUnited.com (Leeds United Football Club). Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "MOWATT ONE OF OUR OWN – BOSS : Brian McDermott on youngster’s debut...". Leeds United F.C. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "CUP EXIT AT NEWCASTLE". Leeds United F.C. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  9. ↑ "Millwall 2–0 Leeds" BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  10. ↑ "YOUNG STAR SIGNS LONG-TERM DEAL". Leeds United Official Website. 5 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Leeds United 5 – Huddersfield Town 1". Leeds United Official Site. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "AWARDS HAT-TRICK FOR ROSS". Leeds United F.C. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "Leeds 3 Birmingham 1". BBC Sport. 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Alex Mowatt and Scott Wootton to miss Leeds' trip to Italy". Sky Sports. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United Official Site. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Birmingham 1 – 1 Leeds". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Cardiff 3 Leeds 1". BBC Sport. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "Leeds 2–2 Charlton: Alex Mowatt shines for Whites as Johann Gudmundsson equalises late on from the penalty spot for Addicks". Daily Mail. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Leeds star Mowatt makes player-of-the-month shortlist". Yorkshire Post. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Mowatt loses out to Gray for award". Leeds United. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Mowatt claims monthly award". Leeds United. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "Alex Mowatt strikes pushes Neil Redfearn's side into top half of the Championship". Daily Mail. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Middlesbrough 0 Leeds Unted 1: Mowatt shocks leaders Boro". Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "Leeds United: Mowatt is becoming a free-kick specialist". Yorkshire Evening Post. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Leeds beat Wigan 1-0 at the DW Stadium as Alex Mowatt hits winner". Sky Sports. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  28. ↑ "Dave Edwards headed home a late winner as Wolves beat Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  29. ↑ "Keep young stars, Redfearn challenges Leeds". Yorkshire Evening Post. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  30. ↑ "Mowatt’s rise is rewarded with England call-up". Yorkshire Evening Post. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  31. ↑ "OUR CALL OF DUTY STARS". Leeds United Official Website. 5 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  32. ↑ "Alex Mowatt set for Scotland call-up?". Yorkshire Evening Post. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  33. ↑ http://www.thefa.com/news/england/development/2015/mar/england-u20s-v-usa-match-report
  34. ↑ "Statistics". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 October 2008.

External links