Alex Mowatt stakes his claim to be Leeds United's perfect 10

Alex Mowatt celebrates his goal with Pontus Jansson.
(Picture: Bruce Rollinson) — Alex Mowatt celebrates his goal with Pontus Jansson. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson)

Midfielder Mowatt benefited from head coach Garry Monk shuffling his side as the 21-year-old’s first goal in 14 months put the Whites in the fourth round.

League Two hosts Cambridge had taken a 25th-minute lead through Uche Ikpeazu but Stuart Dallas headed home an 56th-minute equaliser before Mowatt netted seven minutes later.

Victory, though, came at a defensive cost with centre-back Pontus Jansson now banned for the next two games after picking up his tenth yellow card of the season. Fellow centre-back Liam Cooper also limped off in the second half and left the ground on crutches but a trip to either League One side AFC Wimbledon or non-league outfit Sutton United now awaits at the end of this month in the next round.

Yet of more concern to Leeds is the club’s quest to finally seal promotion back to the Premier League after a 13-year absence.

United sit fifth in the table ahead of Friday night’s game at home to seventh-placed Derby County where a home win would give Leeds an eight-point cushion back to those teams outside the play-offs but Monk’s men are presently just seven points behind second-placed Newcastle United after winning nine of their last 12 league games.

“Anything is possible in this league and anybody can beat anybody on the day,” said Mowatt.

“We need to keep the form going and just keep winning games. The team is doing really well.

“We are all on good form as a team and hopefully we can keep that up. Derby is a massive game for us.”

Mowatt also faces an individual battle to win a regular place back in United’s side with the youngster excelling in the No 10 role at Cambridge but facing competition from both Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe to play in that particular position.

Mowatt – who has also played out wide – is out of contract at the of the season but said: “Of course I am enjoying it at Leeds.

“It’s the only place I know where to play so of course I am enjoying it.

“I have not been playing at all really so it was good to get 90 minutes and I thought I played well.

“I got the chance and I got a goal as well. All I can do is my best when I get a chance really and I have done that.”