Alex Mowatt insists he is getting fitter ahead of West Brom v Barnsley
Alex Mowatt cannot wait to take on Barnsley when West Brom visit Oakwell to play against his former side tomorrow.
Valerien Ismael and the midfielder will be returning to their old ground for the first time since they swapped it for The Hawthorns in the summer on Friday (17 December), and he has told the EFL official website that he feels very much better having struggled to return to peak condition since returning to fitness.
Mowatt, 26, missed five games after hurting his toe in October, but he has since returned to action, helping Albion move to within three points of the Championship top-two.
The Baggies star said: “I haven’t been injured in four years, so that’s the first one I’ve had.
“It was difficult to get back up to match fitness straight away. The last few games, I felt like I’ve done better. I’m feeling fitter and stronger.
“It’s harder to watch the games than it is to play in them. I was on the bench and the emotions are even worse when you’re on the bench. You’re wanting the lads to win and you’re checking the results as well, so it’s not nice.”
Reunion
23rd-placed Barnsley have struggled so far in 2021-22, with just two league wins to their name as they stare down the barrel of relegation.
That is not a surprise as they have missed both Ismael and Mowatt, but their loss is proving to be West Brom’s gain.
The Frenchman’s side are unbeaten in their last four outings, recording back-to-back wins over Coventry City and Reading in recent weeks having won just two of the games the former Leeds United man missed.
They have lost just once since he returned to action, and while he is yet to add to his tally of three goals and an assist, hearing that he is feeling fitter and stronger is good news.
The West Brom squad has been stricken down by Covid-19 in recent days, with a couple of their first-teamers missing the Reading win.
They will be hoping they have enough in the tank for Friday’s trip, and picking up all three points looks like a given due to the gulf in quality between both teams.
Mowatt does not have anything to prove in front of the fans that used to chant his name, and while he expects a warm welcome, he will be putting friendship aside once the first whistle is blown.
In other West Brom news, a billionaire-owned club wants to sign Baggies ace as two-man shortlist emerges.
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