Alan Shearer has told Matchday Live Extra that if Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo produced the assist Joe Gelhardt did for Leeds on Sunday, then he would have been talking about it for weeks. Leeds drew late with Brighton.
Gelhardt, 20, started only his fourth Premier League match of the season on Sunday against Brighton. Danny Welbeck put the Seagulls ahead, only for Pascal Struijk to equalise with moments remaining, drawing 1-1.
Gelhardt created the equaliser. Picking the ball up on the right of the penalty area from a Diego Llorente pass, he went past Marc Cucurella and sat Lewis Dunk down – chipping over him, before crossing to Struijk.
A moment of individual brilliance from a player that is still enormously inexperienced – and only 20 years of age. Shearer claims that if Messi or Ronaldo had done it, pundits will have been talking about it for weeks.
“The skill, if that comes from Messi or Ronaldo we’d be non-stop talking about it all season. To sit the defender down, dink it over and have the ability to put the ball in the box – it could be a huge point for Leeds United.”
Shearer praises Gelhardt for Leeds assist: Could he be the difference?
Leeds are up against it. They find themselves in the midst of relegation mire, only a point ahead of Burnley and one behind Everton – but both have played one less game. They are in action on Thursday night.
Any chance of Leeds staying up could hinge on Everton’s clash against Palace. Villa play host to Burnley. If Leeds come through Thursday with a chance against Brentford, Gelhardt has the ability to provide the difference.
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