Alex Mowatt faces ‘massive decision’ on Barnsley future

The key midfielder, who turns 26 on Saturday, is out of contract in June and has so far elected not to sign fresh terms despite several offers from Barnsley, who turned down a bid from a rival club last month.

Doncaster-based Mowatt was also eager not to leave in the last window, while he considers his long-term future, which he wants to be in the north.

Mowatt, preparing for tomorrow’s glamour FA Cup date with Chelsea, said: “I am at that age now as well where it is a massive decision.

“That is why I wanted to leave it with my agent and just concentrate on my football because I do not want any distractions and want to play the best I can play every week and do my best for the team.”

Admitting he is enjoying work with Valerien Ismael, who is getting the best out of him, Mowatt continued: “Under (Daniel) Stendel, I felt I was very consistent and I enjoyed the way I played.

“Barnsley get similar managers who press and with the ‘gaffer’ now, he is a bit similar to Stendel with the high intensity and pressing and winning the ball higher up and with me, it suits my game. It has been good.”

Barnsley fans could get their first sight of recent signing Daryl Dike against Chelsea and Ismael believes that the postponement of the weekend game with Derby due to a waterlogged pitch has done him a favour in terms of added preparation time.

Ismael, who has Romal Palmer and Toby Sibbick back in training, said: “He will bring something new and is what we wanted and have now got.

“The postponement may be a good thing as the positive aspect from that is that he has recovered a lot from the travel from Orlando to Barnsley with the jetlag because the first few days was a difficult time.

“But now it is fine and he has adapted. He is more ready for (the last) two days and it is a good thing for us.

Meanwhile, Ismael says that Patrick Schmidt’s loan move to FC Reid for the rest of the season makes sense for all parties.

He said: “We will see what happens in the future. He needs to play and score to get his confidence and we will see.”

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