Leeds United should take this Mateo Joseph stance involving Patrick Bamford to cushion any Olympic blow: View | OneFootball

Leeds United might deny Mateo Joseph the chance to represent his country at the Olympics this summer.

Leeds United might not allow promising forward Mateo Joseph to represent his country at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

The 33rd edition of the Olympic Games will take place in Paris this summer.

Leeds' attacker Joseph, who signed for the club from RCD Espanyol in 2022, is in contention to be selected in Spain's squad for the tournament. The 20-year-old represented England in the under-20 World Cup last summer, but has switched allegiance to the country where he was born.

However, there is no guarantee that Joseph will feature at the tournament, as Leeds would need to sanction his release, as per the Yorkshire Evening Post. It appears unlikely that the Whites will allow their highly-rated young forward to miss the majority of their pre-season schedule to play for his country.

At the start of the 2023/24 season, Joseph was expected to be in contention for the opening game of the season against Cardiff City after Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter were ruled out with injuries. Unfortunately for the youngster, he suffered an injury himself during the lead up to the game and did not feature in any of Leeds' first 19 Championship fixtures.

If Joseph is allowed to play for Spain in France this summer, there is a possibility that he will not return from duty until the very end of Leeds' pre-season preparations, which could put his opening day availability again, in doubt.

Farke should give Joseph an opportunity to prove himself

With it seeming likely that Leeds will not permit the release of Joseph to represent Spain this summer, it is important that Daniel Farke gives the striker the chance to prove himself during pre-season.

Leeds have already confirmed that they will visit Harrogate Town for a pre-season friendly this summer, as well as welcoming Spanish giants Valencia to Elland Road in August.

The friendly against Valencia is scheduled a week before the start of the 2024/25 Championship season, and could be the ideal opportunity to give Joseph a chance to show that he is ready.

The youngster scored three goals in 26 appearances in all competitions this season, including a brace at Stamford Bridge in Leeds' narrow 3-2 defeat against Chelsea in the fifth-round of the FA Cup. He did not make a single start in the league.

If Leeds are going to deny Joseph the chance to represent his country and compete for an Olympic medal, they need to show the striker why they want him in the first-team picture ahead of next season by giving him plenty of minutes in the warm-up games.

2024/25 could be a real breakthrough season for Mateo Joseph

There is a real possibility that Joseph can enjoy a breakthrough season in the Championship for Leeds next season. With Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto potentially leaving the club this summer, and Bamford's injury concerns, Joseph could have the opportunity to feature in Farke's starting eleven nex tterm.

Farke prefers deploying Rutter in a slightly deeper role, and Joel Piroe has not always thrived as an out-and-out striker for Leeds, meaning Joseph could stake a claim for the number nine position in the event that Bamford's injury troubles continue.

The 20-year-old's enthusiasm, energy and self-belief combined with his undoubted ability could enable him to step up and be a key performer for Leeds next season as they look to make a return to the Premier League.

He will have the best chance of doing so if Farke hands him enough opportunities in pre-season, and during the early weeks of the campaign, rather than denying him a summer at the Olympics just to make him sit on the bench.

It's time for him to jump up the pecking order and, if Leeds are slamming an Olympic door shut on him, it's time to open up another as a go-to starter ahead of 2024/25.