Barrow joined Leeds from Glasgow in 2008

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back believes the return of centre Scott Barrow could prove to be the missing piece of their jigsaw.

The 30-year-old made his return from injury off the bench in Friday's defeat by Sale and Back hopes his experience can aid their young, developing backs.

"We have to get smarter and having Scott back will really help us do that," Back told BBC Radio Leeds.

"It was great to see him back, he made a difference."

Barrow has only managed to start three games this season because of injury. He missed the opening game against Bath after undergoing a groin operation and then suffered a back injury in the defeat at Leicester in September.

But Back believes that having Barrow back will help his side cut out the mistakes that contributed to Friday's 6-3 home defeat by Sale.

"We saw what a bit of experience and intelligence can do when Scott came on," added Back. "Hopefully he'll be in good shape and available going forward.

"We could have kicked the ball into space more from turnovers and we need to learn to do that. We had opportunities to pin the opposition back deep into their own half and we didn't always do that, while they did."

Leeds remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership after six matches, with no wins to their name and only two losing bonus points on the board.

We are still moving in the right direction and are improving every game. Neil Back

They have not won a Premiership game since Sunday, 25 April - which was, incidentally, the Yorkshire club's last home win in any competition.

Back admitted it was a record that will leave some fans concerned.

"Yes I expect there will be some negativity and bottom of the table is not a good place to be," said Back.

"We'd have hoped at this time of the season we'd be in a better position than we were last season but that's not the case and it's disappointing.

"I don't want to go on about it but we have been seriously compromised by injuries. It means we haven't been able to train with the needed intensity and physicality.

"Now we are getting players back we've been able to up all that in training and that's showing in our improved performances.

"We are still moving in the right direction and are improving every game.

"Wasps is next up for us. Hopefully we can get another big crowd in and can go one step further and get that win."

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