Alex Mowatt will learn lessons from debut red '“ Barnsley boss

Alex Mowatt: Apologised to team-mates at half-time following red card on his debut. (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

The former Leeds United midfielder saw red on his first league start in nearly three-and-a-half months following a reckless challenge on Jack Price in the Reds’ 3-1 home loss to Wolves – and Heckingbottom admitted that he had no issue with the decision.

The Reds head coach believes that Mowatt suffered from a momentary rush of blood more than anything else, but will work with him to ensure that a repeat does not happen again.

Mowatt swiftly apologised for the indiscretion and while Heckingbottom is anxious to avoid anything resembling a re-run, he says that the Doncaster-born player has the mentality to put it behind him.

Heckingbottom said: “Alex is not fazed. I have seen from the Under-18s and all the way through and he just gets on with things and that is why he has played a lot of Championship games at 21.

“Alex apologised at half-time straightaway. It was not an intentional thing, but it is something we have to tidy up.

“Anything that we do not want in our team – whether it is goals against from set-plays – we have to try and eradicate. He will know the same with the tackle.

“Alex was up for it and running everywhere and had got in some good tackles already and burst forward and nearly got a goal. But he just went over the edge a little.”

Heckingbottom saw the transfer window end without any further significant exits, although he admitted that deadline day still had its imperfections.

Alongside signing another young Swansea winger, Ryan Hedges, Heckingbottom was ideally hoping to have added another striker.

But, despite it not transpiring, Heckingbottom is hopeful that his existing options can provide in-house solutions.

He also revealed that his decision to allow a striker in Stefan Payne to leave on loan to Shrewsbury Town was due to him needing regular games to get match fit, which he could not promise in the current climate.

He added: “We did try 100 per cent to get another striker in. But we hope that Marley, Bradders, Arma and Ryan Williams can play up there as a two. It will be two from those four.”