Mo Barrow started just once in a five month loan spell at Leeds United from Swansea City last season – but Reading are seeing the best of him.
Mo Barrow went from the Swedish second tier to the Premier League in the summer of 2014 but quickly repaid the faith shown in him by manager Garry Monk with a series of exciting performances for Swansea City.
A jet-heeled old-school wideman who thrived when one-on-one with daunted full-backs, the Gambian international quickly became a fans’ favourite in South Wales even if his consistency left a little to be desired.
Therefore, when Monk reunited with Barrow at Leeds United last season, the winger joining on a loan deal from January to May, supporters could be forgiven for expressing their excitement.
It’s fair to say Barrow did not make the impact Leeds fans, or Monk, had hoped for however. In fact, the short-term move could hardly have gone much worse, the 24-year-old starting just one game in five months as a disastrous run of form cost Leeds a place in the play-offs.
Just a few months on, however, Barrow is bouncing back. Reading fans had a right to be a little sceptical when their side splashed out £1.5 million on a player who failed so spectacularly at Leeds, as reported by the BBC.
Though Barrow has quickly set about restoring his reputation at the Madejski. Injuries may have restricted him to just five Championship starts but, if you ask any Reading fan, the six-time international has been one of The Royals’ standout performers this season.
Why Barrow flopped at Leeds, then, is anyone’s guess.
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