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Scouting expert backs Joe Gelhardt to have a 'huge future' after breakthrough Leeds United season
We’re delighted to welcome Football Manager’s Wolves researcher Dave Azzopardi as our exclusive columnist. Each week the scouting expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on Wonderkids across the UK…
Joe Gelhardt has got a “huge future” in football and is ready for a big season with Leeds after his breakthrough campaign in 2021/22.
The 20-year-old made a huge impact at Elland Road in his maiden campaign in the top flight and played a big part in the club’s eventual survival in the Premier League after a torrid season for the Whites.
And now the academy graduate has been tipped to make an even greater impact in the new season, with scouting expert Dave Azzopardi backing him to start more games under Jesse Marsch.
“He’s a really good player,” he told The Football Wonderkids.
“Whenever teams go down I do a bit of content on players that will probably stay in the Premier League and when I was prepping the video, I thought if Leeds go down he’ll definitely be someone that I’d talk about.
“Again he was another one I watched when Leeds played Wolves earlier this season and he was such a talented player. Just likes to run at people, likes to beat a man and you can see across the season how much he’s improved. Without Bamford, whose been so important for Leeds over the last few years, he’s had to step up.
“But yeah I think Gelhardt’s got a huge future in football and I hope this season is obviously a platform for him to break into the first team at Leeds properly and start most games next season.“
Gelhardt managed two goals and two assists in just five starts in the Premier League during the 2021/22 season, with 15 more appearances coming as a substitute.
With just 738 minutes of action, he averaged a goal or assist every 184.5 minutes in the league last season and earned plaudits from the likes of Jamie Carragher who labelled him “special”.
In other Leeds news, journalist Zach Lowy believes Brenden Aaronson made the right move by going to Elland Road