Pundit Paul Robinson has claimed that Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt playing for the Under-23s will have been disappointing for the youngster.
Jesse Marsch felt it was the right decision for Gelhardt to play in the PL2 for the Under-23s on Monday night after he didn’t start at the weekend for the Whites. The 19-year-old was subbed off after 38 minutes due to injury, and it is uncertain whether he will miss Leeds’ game at the weekend.
Gelhardt made his debut in the Premier League this season for Leeds and has featured 14 times in the top flight, but 12 of those appearances have come off the bench. He recently scored the winner for the Whites with a last-minute goal against Norwich City.
With the youngster yet to start under new boss Marsch, Robinson highlighted to MOT Leeds News that he may be disappointed that he has had to settle for under-23 football.
He said: “To play him in the Under-23s for him will have been disappointing because he’d have been hoping for a first-team start.”
TIF Thoughts on Paul Robinson’s comments…
Gelhardt is enduring in his first Premier League season and has maybe been used more heavily due to the absence of star striker Patrick Bamford. Leeds have missed Bamford this season – he scored 17 times last term in the league and the Whites have struggled to replace his goals.
Gelhardt has had a lot of pressure on him when he has featured sparingly this term, but he has held his own and has a goal every 249 minutes in the Premier League.
With the news that Bamford will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the season, Marsch may opt to give the 19-year-old more minutes as he looks to keep the Whites in the top flight ahead of next season as long as his own fitness issue isn’t too serious.