Dean Jones predicts Leeds United to be ‘in two minds’ about letting Joe Gelhardt leave in January
Leeds United will be “in two minds” about letting Joe Gelhardt leave in January, according to journalist Dean Jones.
The 21-year-old attacker has made just seven appearances in all competitions this season, amounting to just 315 minutes.
The young forward last featured under Daniel Farke in the 3-0 Championship victory against Millwall in mid-September.
“Obviously, he’s not seeing much game time, but the information up to now has been that he will probably remain with deciding in January and I think that will be reviewed properly at the end of the season if that’s the case,” Jones told GIVEMESPORT (14 December).
“The reason he might stay in January is that the Championship is tough. Now we can all see that he’s obviously not playing, but in the second half of the season, in that league with the number of games and how they can quickly pile up, especially if any postponements come along, it can really test a squad.
“I think that Leeds will be wary of that and will want to know that they’ve got the depth to come in. So he still has the capability of doing a job if called upon and I think they’ll be in two minds about letting him go.”
Staying put?
It remains to be seen exactly what the future looks like for Gelhardt, but one certainty is that the player cannot be very happy with his lack of game time under Farke.
The 21-year-old has featured five times in league action, as well as playing twice in the League Cup before Leeds were eliminated from the competition.
His lack of minutes under the German is certainly understandable, with fellow forwards Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe flying high at this moment in time. The more experienced Patrick Bamford is also ahead of Gelhardt in the pecking order at Elland Road.
But more game time could arrive for the youngster as the season progresses, with Farke certain to need as many players as possible given both the length and difficulty of the Championship campaign.
But Gelhardt is perhaps better off forcing through an exit from the West Yorkshire club at this important stage of his career.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to beat Burnley and Leicester City to sign an international ace from a Championship rival.