Mowatt pens pro deal

Leeds United teenager Alex Mowatt has become the fourth player from the club's development squad to be handed his first professional contract this week.

Midfielder Mowatt, the club's Under-18s captain, has signed a two-year deal and is the fifth of this year's scholars to move up to the pros at Elland Road.

"I'm delighted," Mowatt told the club's official website. "I've worked hard this year and hope this is the first step.

"Everyone has done really well in the Under-18s this season and I hope we can go on and win the league now."

Mowatt, like fellow academy player Lewis Walters, points out the example that former team-mate Sam Byram set with his move into the first-team squad: "I played with Sam a lot last season and he's a great example.

"He's played nearly every game and has been quality. He got the opportunity and took it. He shows there's a chance."

Personally, I've seen Mowatt play and while it was against League of Ireland opposition, he look confident, comfortable, eager and full of potential. With this contract done and dusted hopefully he'll get some loan experience next season and find his way into the side soon, but in a less necessary capacity than Sam "Warnock's only right-back" Byram.

Strikers Luke Parkin and Lewis Walters, plus goalkeeper Eric Grimes, signed their first contracts earlier in the week, and I expect Warnock or whoever will replace him (We know it's not Adkins) will set them up for loans to whoever will take them as soon as possible.