Leeds United's U23 side were beaten 4-0 by Blackburn Rovers' development squad on Monday evening, despite head coach Mark Jackson naming a strong line-up.
The U23s have felt the effects of several first-team injuries this season, with various youngsters promoted to senior affairs in order to plug gaps left by the likes of Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford.
With a two-week break between fixtures, Leeds U23s were able to call on some of their more experienced members to do battle with Rovers at the Lancashire FA County Ground.
Leo Hjelde, Lewis Bate, Liam McCarron and Stuart McKinstry returned to the fold, all of whom have made their Premier League debuts this season.
Crysencio Summerville, Charlie Cresswell, Sam Greenwood and Cody Drameh were all absent through injury, except the latter who is on loan with Cardiff City.
This left one key U23 name missing from the group: Joe Gelhardt.
The youngster made a return to first-team action at the weekend as a second half substitute in the defeat to Newcastle United, but has split his time evenly between the U23s and seniors this season.
Gelhardt was present at the Lancashire FA County Ground, but instead took up his position in the stand among spectators, supporting his U23 teammates from the sidelines.
This was not through injury, however. The 19-year-old has only just returned from an ankle problem and was most likely not risked.
However, the reintegration of the U23s' available blue-chip players - minus Gelhardt - suggested the Blackburn game was a fixture Leeds very much hoped to win.
Gelhardt's omission on Monday evening hints at further transitioning from U23 player to bonafide first-teamer.
The expedited arrival of Spanish teenager Mateo Joseph earlier this month also suggests Gelhardt's first-team involvement will continue to increase throughout 2022.
Leeds U23s' next game is a home fixture versus Liverpool U23 at Elland Road on February 7. Two evenings later, Leeds' senior squad line up against Aston Villa in the Premier League.
In the event Gelhardt is spared from that youth fixture, his next opportunity to entertain the masses at Elland Road will be Manchester United at home on February 20, 2022.
