Youth talent remains a big part of Victor Orta’s recruitment policy and if Leeds United are going to compete for some of the best wonderkids in Europe they need to punch above their weight. Joe Gelhardt is one of the best examples of how well the Whites have recruited for their under-23 ranks in recent seasons.
The England youth international has rapidly gone from decimating under-23 defences to being one of the first names fans are calling into the starting line-up after a string of match-changing cameos. The teenager’s own impression of what goes on behind the scenes at Thorp Arch should hold plenty of weight with those on the outside weighing up interest from Leeds.
Asked whether Leeds was proving to be a good football club for young players to develop at, he said: “It shows that. When you see how many players have made their debut.
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“Under [Marcelo] Bielsa and under Jesse Marsch, they trust the youth players and they give you a chance when you deserve one. It’s a great club for young players to be at. It’s shown you will get your chance.”
Kristoffer Klaesson, Pascal Struijk, Lewis Bate, Gelhardt, Leo Hjelde, Charlie Cresswell, Crysencio Summerville, Stuart McKinstry, Sam Greenwood, Liam McCarron, Jamie Shackleton and Jack Jenkins have all made their first-team debuts under Bielsa or Marsch since coming through the academy or being signed for the under-23 ranks.
The pathway to the senior team is there and Gelhardt says the training set-up at Thorp Arch, first instigated by Bielsa, is geared for youth success under the gaze of the man at the top. “Training on the same pitch next to each other helps,” he said.
“You’re always under the manager’s eye, so if you did do well in a session, and most of the time the 23s are with the first team anyway, the manager sees it in person. It’s good because you can showcase your ability, when at some other clubs they’re at different facilities and it can make you not try because the manager can’t even see you anyway, but at Leeds, as you’re on the pitch next to each other, you’re under the manager’s eye.”
Liam Cooper is the club captain, but there is the wider leadership council under Marsch in place too. All of them have been praised by Gelhardt for how welcome he has been made to feel in an inclusive environment.
“The first team lads are class. Even from when I joined they welcomed me straight away and we were training with the 23s, but with them, and they just made you feel like one of them. It’s not like any of them are big-time, but they just made you dead welcome and it’s a good environment to be around.”
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