Sky Sports pundit wants Rodrigo dropped for Marsch to hand rare Leeds United start v Watford
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 wants Joe Gelhardt to start for Leeds United when they take on Watford at Vicarage Road if he’s fit enough on Saturday.
Gelhardt, 19, was substituted off in the first half of an Under-23s game on Monday but speaking to the media yesterday [7 April], Jesse Marsch confirmed that the young striker should be available for the trip to Watford.
If he’s able to start, Robinson wants to see Rodrigo axed by Marsch in order to accommodate the teenage sensation in his starting line-up.
“I would play Gelhardt [if he’s fit] regardless of how they played against Southampton because I just think he gives them something else.
“He stretches teams like nobody else does and they struggle when they don’t have an out-and-out number nine.
“I’ve said it all season that I don’t understand why they don’t play with Gelhardt.
“We’ll see how close he is to being in contention to play [against Watford] if he’s fit and available for selection but I’d still like to see him play.
“It’s a tough decision as to who you’d leave out because they did well. Jack Harrison got his goal and Dan James has been playing okay.
“Whether you take Rodrigo out and play James in a more central role, I’d potentially look at doing that.
“I don’t think Harrison or James deserve to lose their place, they give you something in an attacking sense.
“For me, I’d leave Rodrigo out and drop James into more of a central role.“
Rodrigo, 31, has started all five of Marsch’s games in charge of Leeds and scored in back-to-back wins over Norwich and Wolves.
He’s arguably one of the most improved players at Elland Road since the American took over the reins from Marcelo Bielsa.
Gelhardt, on the other hand, hasn’t started a Premier League fixture since the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal on 18 December and has made just two starting line-ups in the league this season.
In other Leeds United news, Mark Lawrenson has predicted the score for Leeds’ clash with Watford.