Leeds United under-23s continued their strong start to life in Division One of Premier League 2 yesterday as they demolished Liverpool U23s 4-0 away from home. Leeds’ own Liverpudlian, Joe Gelhardt was the star of the show, scoring two sensational goals – including one from the halfway line – and assisting another. Although the teenager – known as ‘Joffy’ – had a penalty saved to deny him his hat-trick, speculation surrounds him once again: Leeds fans are desperate to know when he will get his chance in the first-team. Marcelo Bielsa has been asked on many occasions when young stars such as Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood, Cody Drameh and Charlie Cresswell will get opportunities and he recently spoke on this subject.
Marcelo Bielsa said: “The important thing is they overcome the players in the same position as them. There’s something that’s very representative when a young player shines for real, the first ones to perceive their possibilities is the group in the first-team when they see that there is a player who’s good for real. It’s not that they say it, you notice that when this happens, they want that player next to them, not behind them. I have lived this many times. When a young player shines, it is the players with experience who notice it immediately. Even if they don’t say it, they make you notice it.”
In the Argentine’s mind then, the way a player is treated by their senior teammates is a huge part of his decision of whether to deem the player ready or not.
