Journalist Beren Cross has claimed that Leeds United youngster Joe Gelhardt will play regularly this season and has the ability to ‘change games’.
Despite being fit to play for the senior side, the 20-year-old was not included in the matchday squad for the Whites as they drew in the Premier League this weekend.
This was noted as somewhat ‘strange’ in parts of the media, but the forward got to send a message to Jesse Marsch in the Papa John’s Trophy as he scored a double in the U21s’ 5-3 win over Tranmere Rovers.
In light of these recent developments, Cross took to Twitter to express his confidence in the Leeds youngster, claiming that he will get his chance at some stage this term.
He wrote: “One look at the last 12 months on the treatment table tells you everything you need to know about Joe Gelhardt’s situation within this Leeds United squad. He’s going to play, he’s going to change games. He’s needed.”
TIF Thoughts on Joe Gelhardt and Leeds…
Following up on his tweet, Cross published an article on LeedsLive claiming that the club’s injury record – that has been ‘so consistently savage for the past 12 months’ – should allow Gelhardt the chance to step up at some stage.
To be fair, with fellow striker Patrick Bamford missing so much football of late, the youngster has been involved in the senior setup for some time now, and proved his quality on multiple occasions last season.
Most notably, he delivered a ‘brilliant piece of skill’ that set up an equaliser for the club against Brighton & Hove Albion late last term while they were stuck in the depths of a relegation battle.
With that in mind and taking into account his latest Papa John’s Trophy display, it does seem as though Marsch would be foolish to forget Gelhardt’s talent, so you can probably expect him to play his part for Leeds this term at some stage.
Will Joe Gelhardt be given a chance for Leeds under Jesse Marsch this season?
Yes
No
