Joe Gelhardt's first words as Hull City player underline his big Leeds United problem
Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt says a chance to be rewarded for his hard work at training with minutes in the Championship was a key factor in him heading out on loan. The 22-year-old has completed a deal that takes him to fellow second-tier side Hull City for the remainder of the season.
The striker has struggled for regular football at Elland Road this season and will hope to regain his form and confidence, playing under Hull boss Ruben Selles, starting with Saturday's trip to Millwall in the Championship where he is expected to make his debut.
Gelhardt has started only one match this season for Leeds - the 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Middlesbrough back in August, and with just three starts to his name since the start of the 2022/23 season, he has not managed to establish himself at the club. With Joel Piroe, Patrick Bamford and Mateo Joseph ahead of him in the pecking order and Farke's style being to start just one of the trio, there's been little hope of a run out, even with Bamford's injury problems.
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Hull's second signing of the January window following on from Matt Crooks' arrival last week, Gelhardt trained with his new teammates on Tuesday and Wednesday and has already enjoyed what he has seen in East Yorkshire.
Speaking to Hull's media team, he said; "It’s a happy moment for me. I’ve spoken to the manager about the plans and direction the club is going in and I can’t wait to get started and get playing.
"I’m really excited to work with the manager. He sees me more playing off the nine, maybe off the right or just behind. My best positions are striker or just behind the striker, trying to help assist and score goals for the team and trying to win games.
"Every footballer wants to train hard all week and get rewarded with playing on the weekend. That hasn’t happened for me in the last few years, so I’m really excited to get playing again and get that matchday feeling back."
