Joe Gelhardt career hampered by Daniel Farke at Leeds United, it’s time for him to quit Elland Road
Joe Gelhardt should leave Leeds United after he has had his career inadvertently hampered by Daniel Farke this season.
The 21-year-old has dramatically slipped down the Whites pecking order since the German took over at Elland Road during the summer.
The English forward should now be looking for a way out of West Yorkshire in the January transfer window, whether that’s on a permanent basis or on a loan deal.
It’s been a mixed time for Gelhardt since he arrived at Leeds from Wigan Athletic three years ago after breaking onto the scene with some impressive performances for the Lancashire club.
But since making his first-team debut against Fulham in the Carabao Cup in 2021, he has been largely underwhelming despite showing early promise.
The forward hasn’t been completely short of chances after playing in up to 48 games for the club, having scored just three goals and laid on seven assists during that time [Transfermarkt].
Despite signing a new five-year contract last year, his situation appears to have changed since then as he was loaned out to Sunderland in January to play some regular first-team football, registering three goals and three assists during that time.
Gelhardt would have been hoping to play a major role in Leeds’ bid to gain promotion back to the Premier League on his return this season following Farke’s arrival.
He actually started in four of the Whites boss’s first seven competitive games in charge, as he scored in the 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town.
But he has failed to make an impression in the Championship and hasn’t featured in the last six matches, with the forward not being included in the squad for the away victory at Norwich City on Saturday (21 October).
He currently finds himself behind Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe and Patrick Bamford in terms of the out-and-out strikers, while other players such as the returning Willy Gnonto can play in that position.
It just feels like he is never going to get much of a chance to prove his worth to the German after slowly slipping down the pecking order as the season has gone on.
While this isn’s something Farke will have done on purpose, it’s a natural consequence of him being under pressure to put Leeds in with the best chance of getting promoted, with the likes of Piroe and Bamford more experienced at this level.
The forward is probably going to have seek a move in January if he wants to ensure his career isn’t hampered any further as he is unlikely to see much – if any – first-team football over the course of the next couple of months.
It’s a shame for the youngster as he has never been short of effort and enthusiasm every time he puts on the Whites shirt, but he perhaps needs to move on from Elland Road to reach his potential.
In other Leeds United news, Farke should axe a defender after his performance against Norwich.