Daniel Farke shares Mateo Joseph update at Leeds United amid stunning U21s week
Daniel Farke admits he had no choice but to drop Mateo Joseph to the Leeds United Under-21s last week.
Joseph, 20, played and scored in matches against Hertha Berlin Under-21s and Liverpool Under-21s, who he also grabbed an assist against in a 2-2 Premier League 2 draw.
The England Under-20 striker hadn’t kicked a ball all season for the first team or the Under-21s before last week, leading to Farke admit that the youngster absolutely needed to play those games.
“Once we have a bit tricky schedule and we play all three days, we are careful to send too many players into the U21s,” Farke said on Wednesday, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post (1 November).
“Mateo Joseph desperately needed game-time. We make a decision day-to-day.
“I think it’s important with those players likely to be involved in first-team games, to be a bit more careful with game-time in 21s.
“We have to make pragmatic decisions.”
Needs game time
It’s time to forget about Patrick Bamford and start looking to the future with Joseph and Joe Gelhardt.
Joseph has looked impressive whenever he’s played for the senior side.
Last term, he scored 15 goals in 19 Premier League 2 appearances while also playing three times in the Premier League as a substitute.
Leeds were in a desperate state up front last season and things are a lot better this term due to Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter.
However, Bamford’s form is rotten, his injury record is even worse and fans have absolutely had it with the former Nottingham Forest striker.
Joseph is a great up-and-coming striker who deserves to be in the side way more than Bamford, who needs to be forced out of the Elland Road exit door at the next available opportunity.
In other Leeds United news, one big-name player at Elland Road could be set to be glued to the bench following Farke’s latest injury update.