Leeds United employee tips star duo to be axed v Norwich and Joe Gelhardt to start
Noel Whelan has suggested Jesse Marsch could look to start both Patrick Bamford and Joe Gelhardt for Leeds United against Norwich City.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Leeds striker and club ambassador insisted the Whites need a natural “number nine” in the XI.
Both Gelhardt and Bamford came off the bench in Thursday’s 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa, replacing Rodrigo, 31, and Jack Harrison, 25, respectively.
As quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post today (11 March), Marsch has not ruled out starting Bamford despite his recent return from injury.
Whelan suggested Gelhardt, 19, should be nailed on to start against the Canaries, with Bamford also coming in if fit.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “I’m surprised Gelhardt didn’t start the game quite frankly. I think they needed to make those changes.
“Rodrigo gave the ball away too easily and too often in the first 45 minutes. There wasn’t enough threat from him inside the box. Really, when you look at it, Marsch had to make the change at halftime.
“Gelhardt brings that freshness, that energy that desire and no-fear football to Leeds United. That’s what you need right now, I think, in these circumstances. We are languishing very close to the bottom three.
“He would be my first port of call right now. If you’re looking for a number nine, he’s the more natural out of everybody bar Patrick Bamford to play that role.
“Give him the game time, give him the responsibility, get him out there on the field. He will thrive in that position.
“There’s lots of hard work that Leeds need to do to get a number nine out there.
“Can Patrick start against Norwich? I’d like to hope so. Can Gelhardt play alongside him? I’d like to think so. To me, I think that’d be a great partnership.”
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