Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has told The Chronicle that Leeds United star Joe Gelhardt has been “difficult to integrate” since he joined the Championship side from Leeds until the end of the season, in the January window.
Gelhardt, 20, has started all four games for Sunderland since his arrival at the Stadium of Light. But, the England U21 man has not scored for the Black Cats. Injury to striker Ross Stewart has seen Gelhardt thrown straight in to the side.
On Saturday, though, Gelhardt did get an assist – setting up in-form Jack Clarke. The ex-Leeds winger, who left Leeds before Gelhardt’s arrival from Wigan, has scored four goals in his last five games – having a hand in 16 goals this term.
Gelhardt was withdrawn just after the hour mark on Saturday as Sunderland drew 1-1 with Bristol City. They are still unbeaten in Gelhardt’s four games, but Mowbray has underlined how difficult it has been for Gelhardt at Sunderland.
“It’s been difficult to integrate him because we haven’t been able to do the work we would have liked to. He gets into the right areas, he has a wonderful left foot. He needs to get the first one and I’m sure they will start flowing for him.”
Mowbray says Leeds star Gelhardt difficult to integrate at Sunderland
Gelhardt is a top, top talent that has a huge future in the Premier League – perhaps, at Leeds. But, if he is to show Leeds that he can do it at the top level, he really needs to start scoring goals. He has played well for Sunderland so far.
But good performances are not going to catch Leeds’ eye, unfortunately. If anything, Leeds need him to score a handful of goals between now and the end of the season – definitely more than five, to integrate him for next season.
Of course, if Leeds go down, you would instantly expect Gelhardt to become a key player at Elland Road. Especially, given a number of Leeds players could leave. An interesting few months ahead for the on-loan Sunderland attacker.
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