Leeds United supporters have seen an increase in the amount of time Joe Gelhardt has seen on the pitch since Jesse Marsch's arrival at the end of February. That said, there is still a clamour for the teenage forward to start matches in the Premier League, which Gelhardt is yet to do under the American coach.
Marsch admitted that Gelhardt had been in contention to start versus Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to the international break, but a back injury picked up in the days leading up to the 3-2 win at Molineux meant he was forced to sit out training. Having also stayed at Thorp Arch instead of travelling with England's U21 side during the last week of March, it was assumed that Gelhardt would be a shoe-in to start against Southampton, given Marsch's comments on the player.
"He has to play, young players have to play in order to improve and he has the quality to do so. So I'm not so concerned about it. I believe in him entirely. And I know he's going to get better and better," Marsch said in his pre-match press conference. However, when the team was announced, Gelhardt once again took his place on the substitutes' bench.
