Neil Warnock says Leeds United have a player who is like ‘a little rat’

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Former Leeds boss Neil Warnock is one of the most experienced managers in the history of the Championship.

The man born in Sheffield has overseen 806 games in the Championship – winning 328 and achieving a record eight promotions in total.

Therefore – despite struggling at Leeds with 17 wins in 54 outings – Neil Warnock certainly knows his stuff, making his latest comments on Joe Gelhardt worth listening to.

Neil Warnock praises Joe Gelhardt but has Premier League doubts over Leeds United loanee

Speaking on Sky Sports (via Hull Live) the 77-year-old shared his admiration for the Leeds loanee, but feels he is not currently at the level required for the Premier League.

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Warnock – who thinks Leeds can stay up – said: “He’s a manager’s player, him. I once said about Dean Saunders, I used to call him a little rat because he never let anybody have any time. In a nice way, and he (Gelhardt) is like that. He never gives anybody time. I love watching him.

“I believe the Championship is his level. I don’t mean this in a negative way. I think he’s still learning, and he could progress, similar to Middlesbrough’s Hayden Hackney, they both have potential to achieve greater things, I believe. I’ve been impressed with his finishing. I just think he’s such a good lad.”

After scoring against Luke Ayling’s Middlesbrough on Friday night, Gelhardt – who Patrick Bamford admires – now has eight goals and two assists in his last ten Championship appearances.

With ten goals in 19 games in total, he is just one away from Adam Armstrong, who leads the Championship scoring charts with 11 goals.

Leeds United need to offer Joe Gelhardt a new contract

Worryingly for Leeds, Gelhardt – who suggested he was unhappy under Daniel Farke – will only have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the season.

It means any permanent sale is unlikely to see Leeds get the money they deserve for the Wigan academy graduate – as clubs know he will be available for free just 12 months later.

For that reason, and also the fact Gelhardt boasts immense potential, Leeds need to get the Liverpudlian tied down to fresh terms, in order to safeguard his value and to protect the 49ers from potentially losing a top talent for nothing.