Wilfried Gnonto has ousted Joe Gelhardt in Leeds United pecking order in two weeks
Willy Gnonto has overcome Joe Gelhardt in the Leeds United pecking order after just two weeks training with the club, says Beren Cross.
The Italy international is yet to feature for the Whites senior team since his deadline day arrival from FC Zurich, but was preferred in the match day squad for the game against Aston Villa on Sunday 2 October to his fellow forward.
With Jesse Marsch confirming that Gelhardt, 20, was not injured, that represents a “staggering rise” for the new arrival according to Cross.
Writing in his latest column for Leeds Live (3 October) Cross said: “Roughly, Wilfried Gnonto had two weeks in training with Leeds United to go from the teenager Jesse Marsch considered unready to ousting golden boy Joe Gelhardt.
“This is less about Gelhardt, whose own reputation as a future star remains intact, and more about the staggering rise of the Italian.
“Marsch had gone some way to illustrating Gnonto’s progress in Friday’s press conference, but the impression the 18-year-old’s made only landed when it became clear he was preferred to a fully-fit Gelhardt.
“The penny dropped on a tentative pecking order. The head coach has never ducked a question since arriving and could not hide from the fact, while Gelhardt was still impressing, Gnonto’s selection did form a hierarchy of sorts.”
Impressing
By all accounts the teenager has been a popular addition to the squad and has impressed the hierarchy at the club, and the fact that he made two more appearances for the Italian national side in the international break perhaps makes it unsurprising that he has found his way in the first team squad already.
But it is in the interest of Andrea Radrizzani and Victor Orta that the 18-year-old is a factor sooner rather than later compared to others.
With the mess that was made from the end of the transfer window, particularly when it came to missing out on Cody Gakpo and Bamba Dieng from apparently strong positions, Gnonto was turned to in order to prevent the club going empty handed as the deadline passed.
His move to Elland Road was already planned for January, so they brought the deal forward in an emergency, but they are no doubt aware that having missed out on everyone else it would keep fans occupied if Gnonto can make an impact earlier than that.
The Gelhardt situation remains frustrating in that he was a major silver lining from the bin fire that was most of last season.
Despite niggling injuries, of which there are admittedly a concerning amount already for the youngster, and both Marcelo Bielsa’s and Marsch’s unwillingness to throw him in more regularly amid an injury crisis, he managed some memorable contributions.
The injury-time winner against Norwich (13 March), and the glittering assist against Brighton (15 May), again at the death, were crucial in staying in the Premier League.
But he was expected to step up to a regular role in the first team this year, yet despite Patrick Bamford being injured again that hasn’t really happened, so with Gnonto now surging past him it may be further delayed.
The newest arrival has to be credited for making the best of a difficult situation upon arrival, but the proof will be when he actually sees action for this side.
In other Leeds United news, a BBC pundit expects a run on the top value player in the squad, and tough task to hang onto him.