Leeds United: Joe Gelhardt will have familiar worry at Elland Road - View | OneFootball

Joe Gelhardt looks set to struggle for game time yet again at Leeds United

After a disappointing 2023/24 campaign which saw him play little football, Joe Gelhardt would have been hoping for better luck at Elland Road this season, but if Saturday's opening game of the season was anything to go by, it's set to be another tough year.

Gelhardt was named on Leeds' bench as they hosted Portsmouth at Elland Road, but he was unused by Daniel Farke, a real disheartening blow for the 22-year-old striker considering his side were chasing goals late in the game.

Bizarrely, the former Wigan Athletic man played more often for Leeds during their Premier League days than he has since relegation to the Championship, and being an unused substitute on the opening day of the season will leave Gelhardt with concerns over a lack of playing time.

The 22-year-old would play regularly for the vast majority of sides in the division, but given the lack of transfer speculation and the lack of game time at Elland Road, you certainly wouldn't blame Gelhardt for being worried about his current predicament.

Joe Gelhardt looks set for another tough season at Elland Road

The striker made just 10 league appearances for Leeds last season, just two of those being starts, and he would have desperately hoped that he'd play more often this season, but that looks like it won't be the case.

Farke opted to play Mateo Joseph as his side's lone striker on Saturday, with Georginio Rutter behind him, and it was Patrick Bamford who replaced Joseph, with fellow forward Joel Piroe also coming on late in the game to try and nick a result for Leeds.

With all four of these aforementioned players able to play as a striker, it's clear that Gelhardt is way down the pecking order, and unless there is an injury crisis or something drastically changes, he's going to really struggle for regular playing time this season.

With Leeds chasing the game against an opponent they should be beating, Saturday felt like the perfect chance to bring Gelhardt off the bench to give his side further presence up front, but Farke opted for the likes of Brenden Aaronson, Bamford and Piroe.

It looks as if it'll be yet another tough season for Gelhardt at Elland Road, and he'd have been desperately hoping for transfer interest, but it's all been rather quiet so far.

This is a far cry from the January transfer window when the likes of West Brom and Celtic were said to be keen on him, whilst Ipswich Town were interested last summer.

No transfer interest means a summer exit is unlikely at this stage, and it's set to be another frustrating campaign for the 22-year-old.

Lack of playing time could stunt Joe Gelhardt's development

At this stage of his career, Gelhardt should be playing regular football, and only having the odd cameo appearance from the bench here and there will do nothing to help his development.

Whilst other players of Gelhardt's age are playing regular football, the 22-year-old is sat on the bench and risks falling beyond his peers.

This is a player who has played 35 Premier League games at a young age, scored big goals in the top-flight and has shown he can score goals in the Championship if given a run of games, and his current predicament is doing him nor Leeds any favours.

The 22-year-old was highly-rated previously at Elland Road and subsequently has a contract at the club until the summer of 2027, but things can't go on like this for the striker at Leeds.

They need to find a solution to his lack of playing time, and a season-long loan with the option to recall him in January would be ideal. Gelhardt is being used as cover now, so Leeds may be reluctant to loan him out in case of injuries, but the chance to recall him would give them some security and give the player a chance to play.

He spent time on loan at Sunderland during the 2022/23 season, and whilst his 3 goals in 18 appearances didn't set the world alight, that would have done more for him than sitting on the bench at Leeds every week.

Gelhardt can't afford another season of not playing regularly, and things need to change in the near future.