Leeds United journalist Conor McGilligan has compared youngster Joe Gelhardt to a current Premier League and international star following his performance at the weekend.
On Saturday, Leeds suffered a frustrating 3-2 loss despite putting up a valiant display – with the game at Stamford Bridge being settled by a 94th-minute penalty.
During the match against Chelsea, Gelhardt came off the bench to score, momentarily making the game 2-2 with a fine close-range finish. It was that sort of predatory movement that earned the teenager praise from McGilligan, with the journalist comparing him to Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane.
However, he also used this as an example to criticise the youngster for not getting himself into the box regularly enough and playing too deep at times – a trait which he said Kane also shares.
While talking on the One Leeds Fan YouTube channel, McGilligan said: “The criticism I have with Joffy is the fact that he doesn’t stay in the box as often as I’d like.
“He’s a little bit of a Harry Kane – he comes out, he tries to draw players out, receives the ball deep. And that, for me, that’s a CAM, that’s a central attacking midfielder.
“Don’t do that. Stay in the box. He stayed in the box for this, fantastic predatorial instinct. Knocked it in, pandemonium, absolute pandemonium. Definitely deserved.”
TIF Thoughts on Joe Gelhardt and Leeds…
Even though it is a criticism, it’s certainly not the worst thing in the world to be compared with the England captain. After all, Kane does have 167 Premier League goals to his name.
Though, those have dried up a lot this season – with only one strike to his name – which could be due to his tendency to drop deep, as McGilligan references.
Is Joe Gelhardt Leeds' best youngster?
Yes
No
Gelhardt only came on in the 81st minute during the Chelsea game, so it’s great for Leeds fans to see they have a youngster capable of coming off the bench to good effect. He has already proven this earlier on in the season when he helped his side draw against Wolves by providing an assist in his 27-minute cameo.
If he can continue to stay in the box and show his ‘predatorial instinct’, he could well become a key man for Marcelo Bielsa this season.
In other news: ‘Preferential for me’ – Journalist reveals ‘positive’ Bamford claim after injury update at Leeds