Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has suggested to Leeds Live that Joe Gelhardt is now pushing for a place on his side’s bench.
Gelhardt arrived at Leeds from Wigan Athletic in the summer and there are great hopes for the youngster’s future.
Gelhardt was considered to be one of the brightest talents to come through Wigan’s academy and he was given a taste of Championship football last term with the Latics.
Since joining Leeds, the teenager has only been given game time for the Whites’ under-23’s.
But Bielsa says that the attacker is now closing in on a place in Leeds’ first-team squad.
“Yes, he is a player that is progressing,” Bielsa said, when asked if Gelhardt is close to earning a place on Leeds’ bench.
“The evolution of the whole U23s team, we follow it closely.
“We analyse every performance of the U23s as if it were the first team and because normally we train with 22 players and when we are missing any of those we sub them with the U23s.
“I think that around 50% of the U23s players can apply for a place on our team.”
Gelhardt should be able to see a clear pathway into Leeds’ team, as Bielsa has played so many of the club’s youngsters during his time there.
The likes of Pascal Struijk, Jamie Shackleton and Leif Davis have all been offered first-team opportunities by Bielsa.
And the hope is that, in the years ahead, Gelhardt will be able to continue to develop and become a regular in the senior side at Elland Road.
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