Joe Gelhardt has told the Yorkshire Evening Post that he will relish playing for Leeds United Under-23s at Brighton on Friday after sitting out Saturday’s trip to Watford through injury.
The 19-year-old was an unused substitute for the Elland Road outfit’s 3-0 win, to move 11 points clear of the relegation zone. Leeds have also gone unbeaten in Jesse Marsch’s last four games at the helm. But they have played twice more than Everton and Burnley below.
Gelhardt has only played 32 minutes over United’s victories over Norwich City, Wolves and Watford, plus their draw with Southampton. Like at the Hornets, the striker failed to enter the action at Molineux. He also only played late in stoppage-time at home to the Canaries.
Marsch gave Gelhardt his full public backing ahead of Leeds facing Southampton earlier in the month. The Whites boss also noted he considered starting the teenager at Wolves. But he had not trained much ahead of travelling to Molineux after suffering with a back spasm.
Joe Gelhardt admits he’s going through ‘bit of a rough spell’ at Leeds
Gelhardt was an unused substitute at Watford on Saturday after he suffered a dead leg for the Whites’ U23s against Crystal Palace last week. The issue kept him from training during large portions of head coach Marsch’s sessions before Leeds travelled to Vicarage Road.
Andrew Taylor should again have Gelhardt at his disposal for the Elland Road outfit’s U23s on Friday away to Brighton. And the forward is relishing the chance to lace up his boots for the West Yorkshire outfit’s development side, as much as he does senior opportunities.
“I haven’t had much exposure to minutes,” Gelhardt admits. “Obviously, I have had a few knocks, I tried to get minutes with the 23s and I got injured. I am just going through a bit of a rough spell at the moment.
“So, hopefully, I can get through that and get as many minutes as possible, because I love playing 23s football as much as first-team. I just like getting minutes and I just want to get fit and play as much as possible. So, it’s important for me, as well.”
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