When Leeds United needed a hero in the penultimate game of last season, Joe Gelhardt stepped up with a moment of magic to set Pascal Struijk up for the stoppage-time equaliser.
The goal ensured that Leeds would go into the final day of the campaign with a chance of staying in the division. And, perhaps more importantly, it gave Jesse Marsch’s men a massive lift, sending Elland Road into a frenzy.
It was a further reminder of what a special talent Leeds had on their hands in Gelhardt. It was sheer brilliance to lift the ball over Lewis Dunk, before chipping the ball towards the back post for Struijk to nod in. And you really could argue that only a few players in the Leeds squad would have been audacious enough to try what Gelhardt pulled off.
Joe Gelhardt has happier memories of facing Brighton than most
Fast forward less than 10 months, and Brighton are on their way to face Leeds at Elland Road once again.
The situation is not quite as desperate as the previous meeting in West Yorkshire. But Leeds are certainly crying out for a saviour in the final third.
Sadly, this time, there will be no Gelhardt to the rescue. The youngster left on loan in the January transfer window, joining Sunderland.
Admittedly, we can hardly criticise the decision to let Gelhardt go. Ultimately, he had struggled in the first-half of the season. And with Georginio Rutter arriving, it appeared to make sense to let the 20-year-old leave temporarily.
In hindsight however, the decision is looking like a gamble which is not paying off.
Gelhardt’s time at the Stadium of Light is yet to really ignite. Meanwhile, Leeds are dealing with yet another injury crisis, with both Rodrigo and Patrick Bamford sidelined against Chelsea at the weekend.
Hopefully, it will not be long until Rodrigo or Bamford return. But the early signs hint that Rutter is not yet ready to lead the line on his own in the Premier League.
Gelhardt would not have necessarily been the answer. This is not a piece to criticise the decision to loan him out. But it really feels like the chance he was waiting for has now arrived.
It says everything about Leeds’ form in front of goal of late that only one player has contributed more assists in the Premier League this season than Gelhardt.
In fact, he has the same number of Brenden Aaronson. But there is a key difference in that Aaronson has made 21 starts. Gelhardt meanwhile, had made one.
Yes, he did not know a lot about the assist for Patrick Bamford at Aston Villa. But, like his assist against Brighton, his pass for Crysencio Summerville against Fulham was outstanding earlier this season.
Leeds made the right call loaning Gelhardt out in January. But goodness, we would love to have him back in the ranks right now.
He is, after all, one of the only players in the squad to have made a very good Brighton side look a bit silly for at any stage.
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