Leeds United’s FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle could hand Daniel Farke the opportunity to rotate his side a bit.
The Whites have just come off the back of two really important home wins in quick succession earlier this week and it is fair to say it has taken its toll on the squad somewhat.
Farke lost both Dan James and Archie Gray to injury in midweek and neither will be fit enough to have any involvement against Plymouth. The likes of Junior Firpo and Patrick Bamford could also do with having their minutes managed.
Assuming Joel Piroe comes back in from the start in that deeper forward position, resting Bamford would open up the opportunity for a player on the fringes, such as Joe Gelhardt or Mateo Joseph, to get a chance.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Phil Hay believes Joseph should be handed a chance from the start, with people behind-the-scenes at Leeds rating him very highly.
Joseph very highly rated at Leeds
He said: “The one you would like to see get a bit of a push is Joseph up front. See a bit more of him. He can be quite versatile but they think a lot of him, a lot of people think a lot of him. They think he’s a good player.”
Joseph has come off the bench to make eight very brief cameo appearances so far this season but he is yet to have been handed anywhere near enough minutes to show what he can do.
The 20-year-old signed a new long-term deal at Elland Road earlier this month and that is a huge show of faith in itself, but he won’t fulfil his potential unless he plays more.
Farke believes Joseph is among a group of players who are the ‘future of Leeds United’ and had he not picked up an injury in the week of the new season, he may have had more chances.
Should he get a start in the cup, though, he must be ready to take it, to show he can make an impact in the league ahead of the rest of the season.
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