Joe Gelhardt must force his way out of Leeds United to reignite his career
Joe Gelhardt must make his case to leave Leeds United in January, either on loan or permanently.
Gelhardt has played just eight minutes of Championship football this season, and is being entirely overlooked by Daniel Farke despite his versatility.
The 22-year-old has shown in the past his capabilities when given a chance, having popped up with crucial interventions in the Premier League in a Leeds shirt, while also performing in a role different to his primary attributes while at Sunderland on loan.
Jon Newsome recently spoke on the matter on BBC Radio Leeds [26 October], urging Gelhardt to seek a way out for regular game time, with his career having completely stagnated.
Leeds United should not stand in the way of Joe Gelhardt
With Leeds’ small squad, fans at Elland Road can be forgiven for preferring to get through January without losing any first-team players.
But due to Farke’s system utilising a lone striker supported by a stocked array of wingers and a number 10, Gelhardt finds himself out of the reckoning – despite the fact he can play in any of those areas.
At Sunderland in 2022-23, he was brought in to play as a second striker off Ross Stewart, now in the Premier League with Southampton, but he suffered a season-ending injury just as Gelhardt arrived, forcing him to play as a solitary number nine. He still performed despite the unfamiliar instructions.
Patrick Bamford is another victim of the system, with the former talisman himself having racked up just 46 minutes of Championship football as November approaches.
Interest will build in the duo from different clubs for different reasons, but Gelhardt – despite feeling at home in West Yorkshire – needs to put his individual career to the forefront of his mind.
In other Leeds news, a potential clash as Jurgen Klopp prepares to begin his role with Red Bull.
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