Joe Gelhardt has told BBC Radio Leeds that he does not feel he has been performing to the standard he would have liked – stating that he would have liked to have found the back of the net at this point, coming close against Everton.
Gelhardt, 20, has come off the bench in four of his side’s six Premier League games so far this season. Unavailable for the Southampton game, he played most of his minutes against Brentford – his only start of the current campaign.
The England Under-21 international was taken off after an hour during the 5-2 defeat. But he did not have much of an impact. It comes after the ex-Wigan striker penned a new deal at Elland Road until June 2027, earlier this summer.
Gelhardt has not provided the immediate spark that he did last season. Scoring against Chelsea and Norwich, or his assist against Brighton, for example. Gelhardt is the first to admit he has not performed to the level he wants so far.
“Personally, I haven’t been as good as I’d like. Obviously, I’m a striker, I want to be scoring goals. I haven’t scored yet and I’d like to score more. As a team, we’ve started well. Against Everton was the closest I came to scoring.”
Gelhardt: Not performing to standard would have liked at Leeds so far
Nicknamed Joffy, the young striker is rated extremely highly by Leeds fans. Supporters of the Yorkshire club saw his street-style football nab a wonderful assist against Brighton, and win a penalty against Wolves.
His goal against Norwich was a pivotal moment in keeping Leeds up, as was the assist against Brighton. The youngster is capable of scoring goals in the Premier League, but it is key that he does not get down – he has only started once.
Marcelo Bielsa thinks he can be a “danger” and is “very good”, so there is no doubt he will come good – if given time.
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