Joe Gelhardt is relishing the challenge of being a regular starter at Sunderland - the first time he has had such a role since he was 16 years old. The on-loan Leeds United striker joined the Black Cats at the end of January and scored his first goal for the club in the midweek defeat at Rotherham United.
Gelhardt has had to adapt to being part of Sunderland's starting XI after spending the last three-and-a-half years as a bit-part player at Elland Road, where all-but six of his 35 league appearances have come from the bench. Prior to his move to Wearside, his only real experience of regular starts came for Leeds' U21 side, and that is a far cry from life in the ultra-competitive environment of the Championship.
"I haven't played continuous 90 minutes of football since I was 16, and when I was playing it was U21s football for Leeds," said Gelhardt. "Men's football is a lot different so I haven't really had that exposure to 90 minutes in a men's game week-in, week-out.
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"It's new for me but I'm enjoying the challenge and feel like I'm getting fitter, stronger and getting used to the league so hopefully I can kick on in the next few weeks. It's been tough physically and mentally as well.
"You have to recover from the games physically but games like Tuesday [at Rotherham], it's going to hurt. You have to try and get past that mental stage of feeling down, but they come thick and fast so you have to be ready."
Gelhardt was originally brought in to give Sunderland another attacking option alongside Ross Stewart, but Stewart suffered a season-ending Achilles injury before the pair had even had chance to play together and that means the youngster is now the only centre-forward available to boss Tony Mowbray. The new man is having to learn a slightly different role to the one he has been used to, but feels he is improving with every game.
He said: "I feel like sometimes I have to help in the build-up by dropping in, maybe an extra body to try and get out of the original press from the opposition. Then when we get it into that final third I know he [Mowbray] wants me in and around the box, middle of the box so when the crosses come in from the wide players I'm there to score.
"It's just about finding that balance of when to drop deep and when to run in behind but I think I'm getting a better understanding of it."
Reflecting on his first month at Sunderland, Gelhardt said: "The club is massive and I'm really enjoying it. All the lads, the staff, the fans, everyone is great so I'm really enjoying my time here.
"I'm happy to score my first goal, obviously the result didn't go our way but hopefully that kicks me on now and I can start getting a few more. I'm still learning how the other players play but I think it's getting better every game, the chemistry is growing and I'm enjoying my football at the minute."
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