Sky Sports pundit wants Joe Gelhardt to start for Leeds United in clash v Southampton
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...
By Ben Brown
Paul Robinson has earmarked Joe Gelhardt to lead the line for Leeds United when they play against Southampton at Elland Road on Saturday.
The 19-year-old bagged a dramatic late winner against Norwich in the most recent home fixture and Robinson believes the youngster offers Leeds the most up front out of all their current options who can play at the top of the pitch.
Speaking exclusively with MOT Leeds News, the 42-year-old thinks Gelhardt is the most similar option the Whites have to Patrick Bamford, who has been ruled out for at least six weeks with a foot problem [official Leeds website].
“It’s a difficult one because we’ve had it all season,” said Robinson.
“Do you play Rodrigo there? Do you play Daniel James there? Do you play Jack Harrison there?
“For me, if Gelhardt’s fit, he plays. I think he stretches the pitch and they look better when they’ve got an out-and-out number nine.
“They put such an emphasis on Bamford in that position yet when he’s not there, they don’t replace him like-for-like and they play a different system with different personnel.
“The false nine hasn’t worked, like we saw in the Aston Villa game with James in that role. I think the key is the number nine and in my opinion, I’d play Gelhardt.”
Huge Chance
With Bamford absent for the foreseeable future and Tyler Roberts already ruled out for the season, Gelhardt seemingly won’t get much better an opportunity to lead the line than he has now.
He’s earned huge fanfare for his direct nature and adulation for the forward has only increased after his winner against the Canaries, that goal looking more and more like a crucial turning point in the season.
Assuming he’s recovered from the back spasm which kept him out of the 3-2 victory against Wolves before the international break he’s surely high up on Jesse Marsch’s list of options to lead the line at the weekend.
The new American head coach has already spoken about his admiration of Gelhardt in his pre-match press conference and with rival candidate Rodrigo playing arguably his best football in a Leeds shirt from a slightly deeper role, the stage seems set for the Merseyside teenager likened to Wayne Rooney to stamp his authority on the starting striker role.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay’s been raving about an English midfielder who he’s heard linked with the Whites.