Tony Dorigo fears Stuart Dallas absence, asks what Joe Gelhardt is supposed to do at Leeds United
The injury to Stuart Dallas is a “huge blow” to Leeds United, and Marcelo Bielsa is misusing both Joe Gelhardt and Tyler Roberts says Tony Dorigo.
The former Whites defender was impressed by Dallas’ replacement Leo Hjelde but is also sweating on the youngster’s availability after he also limped off during the loss at Everton.
And while expressing sympathy for the much-maligned Roberts, the ex-England international has joined the chorus of people calling for more opportunities to be offered to youngster Gelhardt.
Writing in the Yorkshire Evening Post, BT pundit Dorigo says of the injuries: “Stuart Dallas coming off at Everton was a huge blow because he doesn’t just play one position, he plays so many that he can help you change things around in any game.
“Leo Hjelde came on and played really well… I was really concerned when he went down because of the way he hit the ground and the way he was waving in the air… Let’s hope neither injury was as serious as it looked.”
On the debate about who should be filling the Patrick Bamford-shaped hole in attack the former Chelsea player wrote: “It’s difficult for Tyler because you’ve got this young lad Joe Gelhardt on the bench and I think he really should be getting some more minutes. I’m not sure what else Gelhardt is supposed to do and, if he’s at the club, we need to use him.
“Bielsa makes the decisions and, unfortunately, Roberts is feeling the brunt of that.”
Unsettled squad
The issues facing Leeds this season all seem to play into each other and lead to further complications.
If there had not been such crushing injury worries all year the clamour for teenager Gelhardt to feature over the underperforming Roberts would likely not have become such an issue.
And if the result of all the absences had not lead to the team struggling so much there would likely not be the same amount of second-guessing the manager.
But it does seem odd that for all his insistence on keeping young prospects at the club during the transfer window, he appears reluctant to use them despite the injury crisis.
Roberts has made over 100 Leeds appearances now and hasn’t set the world alight, so it would be a surprise if he suddenly blossomed now.
One man he has been forced into using is Hjelde who has done well so far, and may be in line for further use if utility man Dallas is out for any length of time.
Beren Cross said yesterday on his Leeds Live Q&A that the Northern Irishman had been able to walk out of Goodison Park under his own power so there is hope he isn’t too badly hurt.
But it does seem like the endless troubles afflicting the team are getting to Bielsa as he makes some confusing decisions.
In other Leeds United news, four further teams have reportedly joined the chase for the Whites’ main transfer target for the summer.