Mateo Joseph cut a forlorn figure after Leeds United's defeat to Millwall, having just endured a performance he will want to forget. Usually a striker feels such a way when they miss a glorious chance but Joseph did not get a shot off all game. His in-game statistics make for grim reading.

He completed just nine of his 17 passes, ending the match with a 52.9 per cent pass completion ratio - the lowest out of the whole Leeds United team, even substitutes. Junior Firpo only played 22 minutes but had eight more touches than Joseph’s 26.

Of course, that partly comes due to the nature of the role. Daniel Farke insisted that it would have been a tough day for whoever was up front.

READ MORE: Leeds United player ratings as Josuha Guilavogui and Mateo Joseph disappoint in Millwall loss

READ MORE: Leeds United's Joel Piroe in great company with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah as transfer point made

“It was a frustrating game for a striker because Millwall and the way they play, the physicality they have in the last row and the area to protect the last row meant it was always to be a difficult game for a striker today,” he said.

“For a striker, you are even more reliant on what your teammates create. If they produce chance after chance, it is a bit easier to shine.”

Leeds did muster 13 shots at goal but few came inside the box. Joe Rothwell and Largie Ramazani’s efforts troubled Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts the most, and all of them came from outside of the area.

The space created for those chances were partly due to Joseph being marked out of the way. However, that is not the full story. There were multiple times that Leeds were on the attack and Joseph gave the ball away.

This didn’t escape the attention of the Leeds faithful, who grew frustrated with Joseph. At least against Harrogate it was chances he squandered, and not possession.

In order for chances to be created, the striker has to play his role too - help prepare the dinner to enjoy eating it, as it were. Joel Piroe did that against Cardiff City and managed to net twice in the end.

Saturday highlighted two elements; why Joseph was not allowed to be sold before deadline day but also the underlying issue of the club’s winter transfer window policy. Leeds rejected a bid in excess of £10m from Real Betis for Joseph on the weekend before the window closed.

With Patrick Bamford injured, Leeds only have two fit strikers currently and so the chances of Joseph being allowed to leave were next to nothing. Farke revealed after full-time that top scorer Piroe had a small issue as he began the game on the bench.

He would have likely been rotated out anyway but it is a reminder of the scenario Leeds face if Piroe is out. If Joseph had been allowed to leave, it would have left Farke with no other natural central forward option and he may have been forced to field Piroe while not fully fit.

Joseph may have scored against Cardiff last weekend but it is more important to net in tighter matches, when Leeds need goals more urgently. That did not come and is partly why he is a firm second behind Piroe in the scoring pecking order.

This is the reality of the decision not to bring in a new centre-forward last month. It must be remembered, though, that Joseph is still only 21, so deserves a little bit of slack.

He has scored three more goals than Bamford, who has yet to start a league game or score this season prior to his setback. Joseph has time on his side and is not the finished product.

But that is perhaps why United needed to be more proactive in the market. If Piroe is not on song or not available then United’s central attacking verve is lost.

There is an unhelpful cycle too - Joseph’s lack of a clinical touch means he is less likely to get game time, which in turn makes it more difficult to score anyway. But then, just one of Joseph’s three goals this term have come after he has started a game - and that was back in August.

As Farke said regarding the number 10 role, Leeds will have to go with “what we’ve got” in the striker position. Right now, some fans would be forgiven for being a little bit nervous about the current status quo.