Leeds aiming to keep ‘one of their own’ in Mowatt

The 19-year-old has cemented his place in the United midfield over the past month with a string of impressive displays.

Norwich City, established as a club who have creamed the best of the Elland Road talent in recent years, are believed to be one of several top-flight outfits to have had Mowatt watched.

McDermott, a former chief scout at Reading before taking charge of the first team there, said: “The thing with Alex is that if you are 18 or 19 and playing regularly in the Championship, you will be watched. That is what scouting is all about.

“I alluded to the fact (earlier this week when speaking on the Footballers’ Football Show on Sky Sports) that people are watching him. But they can watch him all they like. He is going nowhere, as far as I am concerned.

“His development will be at Leeds. He is one of our own. An Academy boy and come from nowhere, really. He is a good lad.

“What impresses me is his mentality. He will take the ball, even when we are under pressure and not playing particularly well.

“His first game against Doncaster, he didn’t say anything in the dressing room. Just went out and played like he did. He is going to be a good player.”

Mowatt, who was yesterday called up by England Under-19s for the first time ahead of this month’s friendly against Hungary, is expected to start his sixth consecutive Championship game tomorrow when Yeovil are the visitors to West Yorkshire.

Sam Byram, however, is a major doubt with a thigh strain, while Stephen Warnock could also miss out after “receiving a knock in training” yesterday.

Regardless of the starting XI, however, Leeds will be desperate to bounce back after last week’s disappointing derby defeat to Huddersfield Town.

McDermott, who is hoping to confirm Luke Dowling as the club’s new chief scout, said: “I have looked back at the Huddersfield game and I have had a discussion with the players.

“I didn’t say too much after the game because sometimes there’s not a lot to be said right there. But we have had a few days to dwell on things and I have had a couple of individual chats with people and a chat with the group. We are very much at the stage where we are up and down. We need to be more ruthless in what we do.

“At 2-2, we went gung-ho trying to win the game. We don’t need to be like that or win the game in the next five minutes. We need to get a result. That is especially true away from home and we have been working on it because I believe we are going to be close (to challenging for promotion).

“I just think let’s see where we are at the end of December.

“If you can get right close with 20 games to go, who knows what can happen?”