Mateo Joseph could get rare Leeds United opportunity v Blackburn after Thursday developments
Mateo Joseph could be set to get a rare chance with the Leeds United first-team in the clash with Blackburn after a development on Thursday.
Daniel Farke has confirmed that forward Ian Poveda has been granted permission to join up with the Colombia national team for friendlies this month, ruling him out of the club’s next three fixtures in the Championship.
The Whites were under no obligation to release him as the games fall outside of a FIFA international window, but Poveda was desperate to go and represent his homeland.
Farke admitted that he would have rather kept Poveda with the squad as they face a heavy schedule and some injury concerns, but then confirmed that with the winger out until December 18th it would provide an opportunity for Joe Gelhardt or Mateo Joseph to make an impression.
It now seems that the English youth international may be the man to get the nod, after he was left out of the Leeds Under-21 clash with Sparta Prague on Thursday despite being fit to play.
Should Joseph be the man to get the nod then it would be well deserved, with the youngster scoring goals for fun at youth team level and being patient for his opportunity with the first-team.
He will still likely have Patrick Bamford, Wilfried Gnonto and Jaidon Anthony as options ahead of him on the bench but if he can make it into the squad Farke clearly won’t be scared to use him after name-checking him.
Leeds fans are proud of having a pathway from their academy to the first-team, and after Charlie Cresswell and Archie Gray it seems as though Joseph is the next one up.
In other Leeds news, Robbie Savage has backed the Whites to spend “a lot of money” on this star in 2024.