Mateo Joseph footage emerges from Leeds United camp amid ‘feisty’ session
Mateo Joseph is managing to stand out at the Leeds United training camp in Spain as Graham Smyth shared footage from a “feisty” session.
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist named the teenager’s long-range strike into the top corner the “pick of the bunch” from the day’s training as the goalscoring sensation looks to catch Jesse Marsch’s eye.
The 19-year-old already has 11 goals from just eight Premier League 2 appearances this season, including three hat-tricks, and was given his first-team debut in the Carabao Cup on 11 September before a late top flight cameo against Tottenham.
Posting the clip on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon (7 December) Smyth wrote: “Mateo Joseph with arguably the pick of the bunch from this morning’s feisty training session.”
The Whites have three friendlies to play before the World Cup break is over, while Marsch sent a message out to fans earlier in the day making clear that all the hard work has an eye on the Manchester City clash after Christmas.
Attention grabbing
Patrick Bamford’s ongoing travails with injury have left a senior striker close to the top of the shopping list for most fans in January.
Rodrigo has done his part this season with nine Premier League goals, including five in the last four games, but there is always room for players who can find the net.
The unique break for the World Cup makes for the kind of reset opportunity that is usually impossible, so players looking for an opportunity will be desperate to make the most of the training camp.
Joseph, along with Sonny Perkins, is gaining plenty of attention in the under-21s, and with Joe Gelhardt seemingly out of favour with Marsch and a potential January loan exit, the two 2022 arrivals might have a chance during the season.
If he keeps firing in goals like the one Smyth shared footage of then the manager will have to take notice of him, having already brought Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto into the first team in a big way.
Fans will surely hope for an established option to arrive in the winter window, as they will at left-back, but Joseph is going to make his voice heard in that equation in the mean time.
In other Leeds United news, Tyler Adams has been named as the “perfect fit” for Chelsea.