MOT View: Joe Gelhardt set for big audition with Leeds under-23s on Monday
Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt could have been handed the perfect chance to make his senior Premier League debut against Fulham on Friday.
The Whites could be without Patrick Bamford after he limped off against Chelsea, and Rodrigo also wasn’t at full fitness after being dragged off by Marcelo Bielsa.
That leaves Tyler Roberts as the only potential option in the final third at Craven Cottage, meaning Bielsa could look elsewhere.
The under-23s entertain Newcastle this afternoon at Thorp Arch, and Bielsa will be keeping a close eye on the young forward.
Gelhardt missed out on the previous win over Wolves in the Premier League 2, and that could all-but-guarantee his spot in Mark Jackson’s side.
Sam Greenwood has recently been injured and hasn’t returned to full sharpness yet, meaning he is behind in the rankings as things stand.
The former Wigan man has already been on the bench a handful of times in the Premier League but has yet to get onto the pitch for the Whites.
Gelhardt is the one under-23s player every single Leeds fan wants to see make that jump into the first-team this season.
Bamford himself has claimed that the young forward is being compared to Wayne Rooney, and despite the obvious hatred, we can think of worst players to be linked too.
It would do Gelhardt’s chances no harm if he were to find the back of the net a couple of times this afternoon against a struggling Newcastle side.
Should he impress on this one-off audition during a potential injury crisis in the final third, Bielsa would have no choice but to hand him at least a big chance off the bench.
In other Leeds United news, Mateusz Klich spotted in discomfort after draw against Chelsea