West Brom star's confidence in key factor for play-off tussle

The Baggies have lacked consistency since the early weeks of the season and are aiming for their first consecutive wins since September - though will have to upset leaders Leeds to do so.

Mowatt, from a deep-lying midfield role this season, made is six goals for the season in last weekend's win over Oxford, to draw level with Karlan Grant as Albion's second-highest scorer with Josh Maja leading the way.

Mowatt, who returns to former club Leeds on Saturday lunchtime, has made clear his enjoyment at a inventive and forward-thinking style under Mowbray and believes the head coach is the club's trump card when it comes to winning a dramatic race for a play-off spot.

Albion, in fifth, currently lead a flurry of 10 teams separated by just seven points in the hunt for the third and fourth play-off spots with the top four seemingly well clear.

Mowatt told BBC Radio WM: "It's been a really strange season, we lose a game and then we draw and we check the table and we're still sixth.

"We've got a great chance now, the longer the gaffer has been here we want to adapt to his style more, it was pretty much a lot different to Carlos' way.

"So the more games we have under him the better it can get.

"The top four are sort of above and away and all the way down to 14th or 15th is really tight. We want to stay in the play-offs and hopefully we can do that."

Mowatt, who turned 30 this month, reckons the victory over Oxford last time out was Albion's best performance factoring in the entire 90 minutes of Mowbray's second reign so far.

The returning boss has overseen three wins, three defeats and a draw since he came back to the Black Country.

Several of Mowatt's six strikes this term have nestled into the net from range but his latest was a cool finish from close range after neat interplay by midfield colleagues Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price, who delighted the head coach with the way they pierced the middle of the pitch with forward balls.

"We had a meeting and the gaffer said I've got the licence to do that as long as somebody fills in, so when I saw Isaac get the ball I thought 'I'm in here!'" added the goalscoring midfielder.

"The gaffer gives you licence to express yourself, play forward through the lines, wrap it into the striker's feet, it came off so hopefully it can continue."

Mowatt responded to some stick he received at Oxford's Kassam Stadium earlier this season with a celebration in front of the away fans last time out.

Doncaster-born Mowatt was at Leeds from the age of nine to 22. He played more than 100 games for the Whites and enjoyed his best goalscoring season of nine in the second tier at Elland Road. The Yorkshireman has many friends of a Whites persuasion so knows more than most what lies ahead on Saturday lunchtime.

"We know what it will be like and they are flying this season," added Mowatt, who will play in front of fans at Elland Road as an away player for the first time. "We played them early doors this season and it was a good game but since then they've taken off. Hopefully we can have a good game there and play our style.

"I don't know actually (about the reception). Quite a lot of my mates are Leeds fans, they'll be giving me stick because they're near the corner flag, we'll see what happens.

"We go know it'll be really difficult, but we go wanting to play our way."