Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines on Friday, 18 March 2022.
Gelhardt contract
Leeds United have reportedly added Joe Gelhardt to the list of players they would like to offer a new deal in the coming months. That is according to the Athletic, who claim that his performances during his breakthrough campaign has prompted the hierarchy at Elland Road to want to extend his deal.
Gelhardt has netted two goals for Leeds in the Premier League this season after being handed his debut against Fulham in the Carabao Cup in September. His current deal is set to expire in 2024 after signing a four-year-deal upon his arrival from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2020.
Set-piece work
Leeds United defender Robin Koch has revealed how the Whites have been looking to fix their set-piece problems under the management of Jesse Marsch. Defending them was often the Achilles heel of Leeds when Marcelo Bielsa was in charge but it is an area that has improved since his departure.
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Just like they did from open play, Leeds operated with a man-to-man system when defending set-pieces, something which they have moved away from in recent matches. In an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Koch discussed how he and his teammates have been changing the way they set up from them.
He said: "We’re defending partly in the space, partly man to man now. For the first games, it’s worked quite good. It’s different to before but we will see. We are training set-pieces so I think we can get better."
Fans’ XI for Wolves
Leeds United supporters have urged Jesse Marsch to recall Kalvin Phillips straight back into the starting XI for tonight’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Phillips is available for selection again after overcoming a hamstring injury that has kept him out for over three months.
The Whites will be looking to secure back-to-back victories for just the second time this season at Molineux this evening. Leeds were victorious over bottom of the table Norwich City last time out thanks to Joe Gelhardt’s dramatic stoppage-time winner at Elland Road.
And it is for that reason, that Leeds fans would largely like to see the side from the match remain the same. The solitary change they would like to see is Phillips coming in for Rodrigo Moreno, whose availability remains uncertain.
