While a loan move away from Elland Road may have provided some short-term answers, Joe Gelhardt’s long-term future at Championship table-toppers Leeds United remains up in the air.
Should he impress on Humberside – Gelhardt joins Hull City on a temporary basis until the end of the campaign – will that open up the door for the 22-year-old to be reintegrated into Daniel Farke’s plans over the summer?
Or should Joe Gelhardt struggle, like he did at Sunderland a few seasons back, will that see a line drawn under a Leeds United career which initially promised so much?
Ruben Selles’ record when it comes to coaxing every ounce of potential out of the young players at his disposal should serve the Leeds loanee well, even if the Hull boss seems uncertain of Gelhardt’s best position at this stage.
Ruben Selles opens door for Joe Gelhardt to stay at Hull City after Leeds United loane
The former Wigan Athletic wonderkid could make his Tigers debut away to Millwall on Saturday.
And, speaking to BBC Humberside Sport in the build-up to their trip to London, Selles has kept the door ajar for Gelhardt to stay at the MKM Stadium on a permanent basis if it is decided that he has no future under Farke in West Yorkshire.
“First of all, we need to see how the cooperation works and what we want from each other,” says Selles, who takes over relegation-threatened Hull after working miracles with a young, crisis-hit Reading outfit in League One.
“Hopefully, when we arrive into the summer, we are in a good place. [Hopefully, Gelhardt] has made the things that we expect him to do with the team and then, we can have another conversation about [him staying at Hull].
“So, that will mean we’re in a good place.
“Joe is a really good kid who wants to do better and play football. His attributes in the final third and in combinations makes him a complete player that can add some threat up front.
“And, hopefully, goals too.”
Gelhardt wants to play regular Championship football at last
Gelhardt leaves Leeds having played only nine minutes of Championship football this term. He started only twice in 2023/24 as well, having been usurped by another up-and-coming attacker in Mateo Joseph.
And while Joseph has earned Farke’s admiration – the Leeds boss likes physical centre-forwards capable of bringing their flying wingers into play – Gelhardt is approaching his 23rd birthday having barely scratched the surface of the potential he showed during his early days at Elland Road.
Gelhardt is hoping that, with more regular football at Hull, he can rediscover the spark that once earned him comparisons with a teenage Wayne Rooney.
“Every footballer wants to train hard all week and get rewarded with playing on the weekend,” Gelhardt explains. “That hasn’t happened for me in the last few years. I’m really excited to play again, get that matchday feeling back.
“I’m really excited to work with the manager. [Ruben Selles] sees me more playing off the nine, maybe off the right or just behind.
“My best positions are striker or just behind the striker. [I like] trying to help assist and score goals for the team and trying to win games.”
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