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Leeds won training game 10-2 during break, Joe Gelhardt impressed Jesse Marsch
Jesse Marsch has revealed he was very impressed by Leeds starlet Joe Gelhardt during a training game between the first-team and Under-23’s during the international break.
With a two week break from games taking place, the Leeds coaching staff arranged a 45-minute training game between the two squads with the first team coming out 10-2 victors.
But Marsch has revealed during his press conference that Gelhardt played ‘really well’ during the game and that he believes in him, especially with Patrick Bamford missing the rest of the season.
“I believe in him (Gelhardt) entirely and I know he’s going to get better and better,” he said. “When we had a little bit of a test match on Friday he played really well.
“We played, basically, the first team against the 23s for 45 minutes, which Kalvin [Phillips] and Liam [Cooper] both played 45 minutes in that stretch and at the end of the 45 minutes it was 10-2 and Joffy played great in that moment.
“He had a goal or two and, you know, I mean, it was a strong performance from the front four guys. They were incredibly powerful and direct and aggressive.”
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Opportunity
Bamford is out and there’s no point waiting on him to return, so there is now chance like now to give the young Gelhardt a run in the starting lineup.
Daniel James has often been fielded as a central striker in Bamford’s absence this season, but his performances have been largely poor and he is much better suited to a winger role.
With Jack Harrison’s form hot and cold, while Raphinha has the right wing locked down and Rodrigo in good form playing just behind the striker it seems like the perfect moment for Gelhardt to make a lasting impact.
He’s shown he’s capable at this level, turning in excellent performances all season and scoring the late winner against Norwich last month. He deserves a chance, so give it to him.
Leeds have a seven-point cushion right now above the bottom three although they’ve played more games than those sides, it means there’s a little less pressure on results.
In other Leeds news, Paul Merson reacts to major Leeds transfer talk this week, move is inevitable