Phil Hay has been speaking about what people are expecting from Joe Gelhardt on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show.
Marcelo Bielsa decided to rotate his side for the Carabao Cup game against Fulham during the week and handed starts to players such as Charlie Cresswell, Crysencio Summerville and Jamie Shackleton, but someone who was not trusted from the start was Gelhardt, although he did get on the pitch near the end of the match.
Will Joe Gelhardt start often in the league for Leeds next season?
Yes
No
The 19-year old striker had to step up and take a penalty during the shootout and dispatched his effort expertly – and there is an expectation from people who have worked with the striker before that he can become a very good player, as Hay spoke about on his podcast.
On the future and expectations of Gelhardt, Hay said: “There’s a lot expected of him, but I don’t think it’s just because people have it in their heads that he could be very good – it’s because he should be very good.
“If you speak to people who’ve worked with him previously, they say exactly the same.”
TIF Thoughts on Gelhardt…
With Patrick Bamford ruled out for the second game in a row and both Tyler Roberts and Rodrigo yet to get off the mark for Leeds in the league this season, it may not be too far-fetched for fans or Gelhardt to think a starting position or more prominent role off the bench is on the cards this weekend.
There should certainly be a lot of optimism and hope for what he can bring to the first team when Bielsa believes he’s ready, and considering he made his league debut for Wigan in the second tier when just 16 years old, there will certainly be high expectations for him.
Also, since joining Leeds, his record for the Under-23s is very impressive, with 15 goals in 22 appearances, so hopes of him being very good seem to be well-informed.