Leeds United may not be willing to send Joe Gelhardt out on loan this January, even if he’s currently not at all getting a look-in.
The Whites have a number of fringe players that are looking for senior game time, but unlikely to get it while at Elland Road.
Joe Gelhardt unfortunately falls into that category, not featuring for the side since a one-minute cameo away at Millwall last month.
Why isn’t Gelhardt playing?
Leeds’ investment in attacking signings didn’t really come until late in the window with Joel Piroe and Jaidon Anthony arriving late in the summer.
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Couple that with Willy Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra being frozen out for a period in August, and it gave Gelhardt multiple chance to impress off the back of his loan at Sunderland last season, but he looked a poor fit for what Farke wanted from him in two different roles.
The return of Gnonto from being left out, plus Dan James, Crysencio Summerville, and Georginio Rutter, all recovering from injuries, and the new signings, all meant that Gelhardt has since been left without any chance of playing for Farke – made worse by Patrick Bamford’s return to the squad.
Paul Robinson discusses loan possibility
A loan move was the solution last season after Gelhardt faced similar issues last season under Jesse Marsch, and perhaps another January exit could be on the cards for the striker.
Former Leeds man and Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson believes that while a loan would benefit Gelhardt, it might not be possible with Leeds’ depth concerns.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, Robinson believes that injury concerns will have Gelhardt right back in the mix:
“I don’t think the manager can afford to [send him on loan]. The playoffs are probably a minimum aim for Leeds this year, but they’re looking for an automatic promotion place.
“Look at the squad, we know that Patrick Bamford’s injury record isn’t great over the last 18 to 24 months or so. Look at the players that are playing like Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter. If one of those two or both were to get injured, he’s gonna need someone like Joe Gelhardt.
“Yes, he’s not getting his opportunity at the moment and he’s not getting his game time, which is a huge frustration for a player, especially of his age when he had such a big taste of it last year.
“I don’t know the situation with him and the manager, but I suspect that the manager would be reluctant to let him go until he gets Bamford back fully firing and fully fit, but even then you can’t guarantee it.
“The club have got a selfish element that they’re going to need him should certain situations arise. So, yes, the club would probably like to put him on loan, to develop him as a player to give him the opportunity to get those minutes that he wants and that he craves and to go and score goals.”
In terms of options that could play as the nine in our side, we have Rutter, Piroe, Bamford, and Mateo Joseph all there.
With attacking midfielders, we have Piroe, Summerville, Ian Poveda, Glen Kamara, Archie Gray, and even Rutter and Bamford could drop deeper.
There is plenty of depth there for us to not need Gelhardt for a potential injury crisis, given that he’s not even getting a chance while Gnonto is out injured.
When the squad is up to full strength, Gelhardt doesn’t make our bench.
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