Mateo Joseph exploits show why Leeds United should make Joe Gelhardt decision: View | OneFootball

Leeds United have a reputation for developing young talent, and a number of promising forwards on their books currently, but two that seem to be directly competing are Mateo Joseph and Joe Gelhardt.

The likes of Patrick Bamford, Georginio Rutter, and Joel Piroe were always likely to feature in the majority of minutes in attacking areas for Daniel Farke. However, players such as Joseph and Gelhardt were retained by the club this summer, allowing other young forwards such as Sonny Perkins and Sam Greenwood to head out on loan instead.

The pair will have been hoping for development minutes with the first-team, and share some similarities in how the starts of their respective careers in LS11 have gone so far. Firstly, as Gelhardt's first goal for the club came during a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in 2022 under Marcelo Bielsa.

Almost exactly two years on, and Joseph has repeated a similar feat with his very own Gelhardt-moment as Leeds were defeated 3-2 at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round recently, with Joseph securing his first senior goals with a brace against Leeds' bitter rivals.

The 20-year-old striker was starting his second game in a row in the cup, and it was also just his second start all season in any competition for the club. Meanwhile, Gelhardt had to watch on for much of the campaign, with multiple injuries hampering his progress.

Even when fit, though, he has not always been afforded many opportunities, and perhaps recent fixtures are a sign of what is to come for Gelhardt, and his current place within the pecking order for Leeds.

Injury has also restricted Joseph to less action than he would have liked this term, after starting the campaign on the treatment table, but he has all the fundamentals to make it as a striker to a very high level.

The 20-year-old can finish well, run the channels, link play, hold up the ball, and is strong in one-v-one situations as well. His skill set for a striker is well-rounded already, and he has all the attributes of a modern day number-nine to succeed with more refinement and development.

Joseph's displays in back-to-back games in the FA Cup have caught the eye, though. He acted as Leeds' focal point against Plymouth in the FA Cup replay, striking the woodwork and showcasing his ability to work the channels and play off the shoulder in a difficult fixture.

That game came after a big confidence boost for Joseph personally, having only recently signed a new deal at Elland Road until 2028. The youngster repaid the faith in him and followed that Plymouth performance up with his brace against the 2021 UEFA Champions League winners, so will be on cloud nine at present.

However, he strangely found himself left out of action against Huddersfield completely, but then followed the appearance against Chelsea up with another fantastic cameo against Stoke City on Tuesday night. The Whites found themselves under the cosh, and, with both Gelhardt and Joseph on the bench, Farke turned to Leeds' recent FA Cup hero.

He came on and excelled again, almost scoring when he rounded the 'keeper late on, only for the covering defender to clear his shot off the line, whilst also helping to alleviate pressure and get Leeds up the pitch by making the ball stick in the final third, and connecting play well alongside fellow substitutes Willy Gnonto and Piroe as well - with the trio all performing exceptionally against tired legs when Leeds came under serious mounting pressure.

Joseph has made more appearances (15) than Gelhardt (11) this season, and has scored one more goal than his competition in attack as well. Gelhardt started four games in August to begin the season, but has failed to start a single game since then, making six appearances from the bench, with the majority of those in under 10 minute cameos.

Joe Gelhardt should head out on loan in 2024/25

Given how crucial Bamford has become to Leeds, it is unlikely he will be dropped often for the remainder of the season, but Joseph has taken his chance to impress Farke in those last two cup games, and again from the bench against Stoke.

It puts his place in the striking pecking order firmly above Gelhardt, albeit, if anything, Gelhardt is more versatile than Joseph. The forward can operate behind the striker as a withdrawn forward or secondary-striker, or from the right flank, where his best display of the season came as a substitute against Plymouth, in what was the only time he has seen minutes in that position all season.

Gelhardt works better in deeper pockets when he has space to move from out to in and attack the box, and the fact he has rarely seen minutes in that sort of role is a testament to how poorly his development has been handled by various managers at Elland Road in the last few seasons since Bielsa's departure.

However, he also has himself to blame, as he simply has not taken his chance often enough this campaign, outside of that game. It highlights the need to find him a new home next season, irrespective of which league Leeds find themselves in come the end of May. In truth, this should have been a priority for the club in January, with Gelhardt's development stalling with each game he fails to receive minutes, which Leeds would see as a necessary decision given Joseph's performances.

Joseph is the player that needs to be refined by the club into the all-round striker Bamford is, but it is at the expense of Gelhardt, who simply needs to find himself a home, even if it is only a temporary one away from Leeds during 2024/25.