Leeds United v Cardiff City: United star Mowatt not on the radar of Hull chief Bruce

The 20-year-old, with nine goals to his name this season, was linked with a potential move to the Premier League this week.

John Rudge, the former Port Vale manager and member of City’s scouting network, was at Wolverhampton Wanderers to run the rule over Mowatt in Easter Monday’s 4-3 defeat for United.

Asked by The Yorkshire Post about the speculation, Bruce, before flying to Southampton ahead of the Tigers’ league fixture, replied: “John was watching Wolves versus Leeds.

“But, looking at the articles, it was probably the agents. Look, it is our job to track all good, young players.

“There is no doubt he is a good player. But it is a bit premature to say Alex Mowatt is on the radar.

“He is a good young player but that is as far as it has gone. Last year, there were 150 players I was linked with and we bought five.”

Mowatt and his team-mates will be looking to return to winning ways today after a barren Easter.

Back-to-back defeats against Blackburn Rovers and Wolves – which came in the wake of assistant manager Steve Thompson’s suspension – came after a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for United since the turn of the year.

Head coach Neil Redfearn, whose own future remains shrouded in doubt following the barring of his close friend, said: “It is important that the club’s in a good position at the start of next season.

“What the players have done is buy into the philosophy and the ethic. They know now that they have got to work hard to get in the side, nothing’s a given.

“Hard work and determination is expected. The supporters expect it, I expect it. The whole culture at the club has changed for the better.

“Once you get that down as a base then you can start building and creating a side that is successful and can challenge.

“What has happened in recent weeks is that we have had to concentrate on the short term, the here and now. We have got on with that. The games have come thick and fast and we have had to concentrate on them. There are five weeks to go, three weeks of the season left and we’re concentrating on that.”