Pundit worries for Joe Gelhardt at Leeds United after Jesse Marsch move spoke volumes
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson admits Jesse Marsch’s decision to allow Joe Gelhardt to play for the Leeds United Under-23s side on Monday “wasn’t an ideal” one.
Gelhardt, 19, started the Whites’ Premier League 2 win over Crystal Palace but was substituted off after 38 minutes due to an injury.
According to the Yorkshire Evening Post on 4 April, the initial feeling was that there were no major concerns about the young striker’s injury and that it was probably a dead leg.
It remains to be seen whether or not Gelhardt will miss Leeds’ upcoming Premier League clash with relegation rivals Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday.
However, Robinson seems to feel that Gelhardt isn’t in Marsch’s immediate first-team plans due to the fact he didn’t start against Southampton last week and was dropped into the Under-23s on Monday.
“That’s a question for the manager,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News when asked why Gelhardt was risked in an Under-23s game.
“You’ve got to think he’s given him that because he’s had a lack of game-time – that’s the only reason you can think Marsch has played Gelhardt in it.
“He certainly wouldn’t have wanted or anticipated he got injured but then, you question what his plans are and whether he’s going to play or not.
“It wasn’t an ideal decision but if it paid off, he played and got minutes under his belt, there wouldn’t have been a problem. It’s just the fact Gelhardt was played in the game and he got injured.
“But Marsch isn’t playing him.
“He didn’t start at the weekend, Marsch picked James, Harrison, Rodrigo and Raphinha again so it begs the question as to where Gelhardt is in the pecking order.
“He obviously isn’t going to play him because Bamford didn’t play and Gelhardt didn’t start again.
“To play him in the Under-23s for him will have been disappointing because he’d have been hoping for a first-team start.
“But, it was game-time for him and minutes under his belt, which stands him in good stead.”
In other Leeds United news, this Elland Road ace could be thrown under the bus by Marsch after what happened on Monday.