Jesse Marsch's Joe Gelhardt bravery claim hints towards Leeds United involvement - YEP 25/4/22
Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has been discussing teenage forward Joe Gelhardt again
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds United's 2021/22 campaign is unlikely to be one which
supporters look back on all too fondly.
Following the euphoria of a Premier League return in 2020
and a top-half finish at the first time of asking in 2021, this season has been
punctuated by injury to several key first-team players and the sacking of
revered coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Nevertheless, the team have picked up important results in
the Argentine's absence, reinvigorated by his replacement Jesse Marsch.
Heading into the final six games of the season, Leeds are
still embroiled in a fight to remain in the division with Burnley and Everton
also gaining points in recent weeks.
Ahead of Monday evening's tie with Crystal Palace, Jesse
Marsch spoke to the media detailing his plans for the Whites' visit to Selhurst
Park.
Marsch revealed Kalvin Phillips would start the game, whilst
Junior Firpo is back in contention.
In attack, Patrick Bamford is making progress in the
treatment room following a foot injury, but will be out for the next couple of
weeks at least.
In theory, Bamford's absence should have made way for
teenager forward Joe Gelhardt to feature more regularly.
However, a false positive COVID-19 test, a slight back
injury and the fixture calendar has meant Gelhardt's opportunity from the start
under Marsch has not been forthcoming.
Speaking on Friday afternoon, Marsch claimed that he needs
to show 'bravery' when it comes to naming Gelhardt in his starting XI.
"I've worked with so many young players, and it was a
big part of the philosophy of all the clubs that I worked at," the
American began.
"And I think maybe I even said this in the media at the
beginning but if you want to produce young, brave players, then the person that
has to be the bravest is the first-team coach.
"You have to believe in young players, you have to put
them on the pitch and you have to challenge them to be their best. I had a long
talk with Sam Greenwood and Joffy [Joe Gelhardt] today about their role in the
team and and how much I believe in them and how important they are," he
added.
Gelhardt and Greenwood were omitted from the U23s' defeat to
Manchester City at Elland Road on Friday evening, with one eye firmly on the
encounter with Crystal Palace.
In particular, Gelhardt has made an impression whenever he
has featured from the bench this season, scoring at Stamford Bridge and Elland
Road after being brought on as a substitute.
Marsch has not shied away from the possibility of increasing
Gelhardt's involvement. Now, with a brief period of rest and two weeks of
unbroken training under his belt, there appears little that could stop Gelhardt
from making the starting line-up this time around.