Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray has claimed that the Black Cats will not drop Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt over his poor run of form at the Stadium of Light, as he admitted that the forward's "confidence is pretty low at the moment".
Gelhardt has not had the easiest of times during his loan spell at Sunderland. A day after signing for the Championship side, the 20-year-old would have the rest of the season flipped upside down following a campaign-ending injury to the Black Cats' top scorer Ross Stewart.
The Leeds man now finds himself as the club's only recognised striker and faces the weight of leading the line for Mowbray's side in their play-off push resting squarely on his shoulders. Gelhardt's only goal on Wearside so far has come in a 2-1 defeat to Rotherham United as he still looks to click into gear and settle into life in the north east.
