Alex Mowatt says his three-game suspension 'felt like a lifetime' but is determined to make a success of a Barnsley career which started disastrously.

The midfielder was sent off 42 minutes into his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 31, just days after signing for the Reds from Leeds United. He was suspended for the next three games but came off the bench for the last ten minutes against Brighton on Saturday.

Mowatt, who celebrated his 22nd birthday last week, said: "I started the game well and had a good chance to score.  But then it was a day to forget.

"I'm not a dirty player and I'm not known for those sort of tackles but my adrenaline was high. I just wanted to win every ball. I don't really know how it happened.  I was disappointed with myself and the three games seemed like a lifetime. It's one of those things. "It happened, I can't do anything about it. I just have to move on now."

Mowatt, who lives in his hometown Doncaster, played 125 games for Leeds, scoring 13 goals, and was on the bench for their 3-2 loss at Oakwell a week before he signed for the Reds. He said: "The move happened very quickly. I never thought I would leave Leeds in January. I thought I might go out on loan because I wasn't playing. I was a bit upset when I left Leeds for the last time but it was something I needed to do.

"Barnsley are a very good, young team and that's what I want to be a part of.  I saw them when they beat Leeds and they were really good."

Mowatt got his first first Leeds goal against tomorrow's opponents Huddersfield and also hit a long-range stunner at the John Smith's Stadium in 2015. The Terriers are currently third and Mowatt believes it will be tough for the Reds to join them in the top six.

"We would have to win a lot of games and the fifth and sixth sides would have to drop points. But you can never say never.  We just need to win as many games as we can and see where we are at the end of the season."