Joe Gelhardt may not play for Leeds United again after crushing injury news
Leeds United take on Leicester City in what promises to be a huge Championship clash at the King Power Stadium on Friday 03 November.
Daniel Farke delivered mainly good news in his press conference with Joe Rodon, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Byram all expected to be fit.
One piece of crushing news was that Joe Gelhardt has fractured his hand and may require surgery that will keep him out of the fold for many weeks.
The young striker was not playing anyway and finding it hard to get into the squad under Farke, but this is only going to set him back even further at Elland Road.
With Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Patrick Bamford all ahead of him, there was already the possibility that the young striker could force a move away.
After a loan spell at Sunderland last season saw him pick up many minutes at the Stadium of Light, his return and lack of action could suggest that a permanent exit may be the best option for him.
Gelhardt isn’t a troublemaker and appears to be happy based on official club posts, but you never know what a player is thinking deep down when they are not getting a sniff.
Unfortunately, there is a balance where these players are too good to play for the academy, but cannot get in the senior matchday squad, with Charlie Cresswell another example.
There is a fine line, and if this injury adds to Gelhardt potentially not playing for Leeds again, it is hard to look past him potentially quitting the club in January, or the summer.
In other Leeds United news, one Leicester City star has now been confirmed to miss Friday’s crucial clash.