ALEX Mowatt says Pep Clotet was the main reason he agreed to drop a division and join Oxford United.

The 22-year-old midfielder completed a season-long loan move late on deadline day from Sky Bet Championship side Barnsley.

Mowatt worked with Clotet when the pair were at Leeds United last season, and said the manager was the pivotal reason in him joining the U’s.

He trained with his new teammates for the first time yesterday and will be in the squad for today’s League One clash at Milton Keynes Dons.

“Pep was obviously a big factor in me coming,” he said.

“I enjoyed working with him at Leeds and when I knew he was interested in me it was quite easy.

“He told me he wants to get back into the Championship and have good cup runs because that’s great for the fans and everyone at the club.”

He added: “I got on really well with Pep.

“As the assistant at Leeds when I was there, we spoke a lot.

“I know the way he likes to play and he speaks to me a lot about what he wants me to do, so he’s a good communicator.

“Obviously it will be a bit different with Pep as a manager because I would presume I won’t be talking to him so much – especially not about the gaffer’s decisions because that’s now him!”

Mowatt, who was capped by England at under 20 level, played 126 times for Leeds, before joining Barnsley in January.

But he has featured just twice this season, making one start and one late substitute appearance for the Championship side.

He is in United’s squad for today’s trip to Stadium MK, along with fellow new signing John Mousinho, another deadline-day capture.

“I had an entire pre-season and played the first two games of the year for Burton, so everything is fine with my fitness,” Mousinho said.

“Hopefully I will be involved on Saturday.

“We will see what the manager needs from me, but there certainly won’t be anything holding me back.”