Alex Mowatt delivers verdict on Leeds United as West Brom prepare for Elland Road trip

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Alex Mowatt was one of a number of players to jump off the Thorp Arch conveyor belt during Leeds United’s mid-table mediocrity in the Championship around a decade ago.

Alongside current Leeds United player Sam Byram and others like Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor, Mowatt went on to play 125 times at senior level for his boyhood club, the playmaker having a hand in 26 goals.

Mowatt has since become a regular for West Brom, spending the last four years with the Baggies. Like his stats at Elland Road, he’s had a hand in 21 goals in 112 – but this season, Mowatt is enjoying his best year.

Eight goals and assists in 32 games, scoring six times from midfield. Mowatt is likely to start after starring in West Brom’s win over Oxford United last time out – and he’s been discussing Saturday’s clash at Leeds.

• READ MORE: Leeds United’s next Thorp Arch gem has 22 goals and assists this season for the 21’s

Alex Mowatt has a warning for boyhood club Leeds United

West Brom come to Elland Road in indifferent form since Tony Mowbray took over in January. Three wins, three losses and a draw during Mowbray’s seven games in charge, but they remain in fifth in the table.

It comes after former Leeds U21 manager and Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant Carlos Corberan left West Brom to take over at Valencia. Mowatt has told West Brom’s website that West Brom will be playing to win.

“I’m excited. It’s the first time I’ll have played with fans there. It is going to be a tough game, they’re flying so it’s going to be difficult. We want to play our style and we go to the game wanting to win the game.”

Alex Mowatt’s four appearances against Leeds since 2017 exit

Mowatt has played against Leeds on four occasions, twice for Barnsley and then twice for West Brom. Indeed, Mowatt has captained Barnsley in the two games he faced Leeds, one at home and one away.

Both came during Bielsa’s spell in charge as Leeds manager, with Mowatt’s Barnsley facing Leeds in front of a crowdless Elland Road in 2020. With West Brom, he has only faced Leeds at The Hawthorns.

Leeds will not only be full of confidence going into Saturday’s lunchtime game after wins against Sheffield United and Sunderland, but because West Brom have only beaten Leeds on one occasion in the last eight.