Leeds United would need to break the habit of a year…

Leeds United would need to break the habit of a year for Joe Gelhardt to even become a debate

While Sonny Perkins and Mateo Joseph have been gorging themselves on goals week by week, Joe Gelhardt’s transition to the first team has seen him go under the radar. In fact, the 20-year-old only hit his first goals of the season down the road from his family’s house last night.

While Perkins and Joseph are soaking up the under-21 limelight Gelhardt’s already enjoyed for the past two years, he’s in the first team and trying to make a difference on the big stage. A drop down into the under-21s at Tranmere Rovers last night quickly underlined why Gelhardt has moved onwards and upwards already.

And yet the arrival of Wilfried Gnonto followed by Gelhardt’s omission from Sunday’s matchday squad raised a few eyebrows. United’s injury crisis has been so consistently savage for the past 12 months and Gelhardt’s game-changing ability so unique, his name has become a staple on the weekend teamsheet, fitness permitting.

Sunday’s initial assumption had been Gelhardt must be injured, such was the shock at his exclusion, but Marsch would ultimately confirm it was, for want of a better phrase, down to the current pecking order. Ironically, Luis Sinisterra’s suspension is likely to mean a swift return to the squad for the striker this weekend at Crystal Palace.

Last weekend’s omission did at least pose the question of what game time Gelhardt can hope to have between now and the January transfer window. It seems bizarre to even question it at a club which came out of the summer window still lacking the senior, top-level striker many fans had craved.

Behind Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo, Gelhardt had been established as the next striker off the rank as someone who could be trusted to create problems. In coming out of the window with no proven competition for Bamford or Rodrigo, Gelhardt remained an important cog to be used regularly from the bench at the very least.

Yet Gnonto’s unforeseen rise has put pressure on Gelhardt’s place at the first opportunity. There are seven league fixtures between now and the World Cup break. Nobody would be surprised if Gelhardt was included in five or six of them.

There are too many ifs and buts for there to be any serious concerns about the striker’s game time. Bamford, Rodrigo, Gnonto and most of the attacking midfielders would all need to stay fit for every forthcoming match to even make Gelhardt a debate.

Even then, you’re assuming Gelhardt doesn’t force his way back up the order with some in-match brilliance along the way. No Leeds fan needs telling just how injury prone the two senior strikers have been for the past 12 to 18 months.

Gelhardt’s going to be needed and he’s going to be needed regularly as Leeds go looking for goals. It won’t be long before he’s back on the field and reminding everyone of the genius flashes we saw last term.

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here