Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt had a weekend to remember for Hull City as he secured a dramatic late winner against Birmingham City.
Joe Gelhardt once carried the hopes of the Leeds United fanbase after he burst onto the scene in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
Having been handed his senior debut in a League Cup tie against Fulham, Gelhardt scored two important goals as Leeds avoided relegation in dramatic circumstances under Jesse Marsch, including his famous last-gasp winner against Norwich.
However, the vagaries of form and fitness meant that Gelhardt fell down the pecking order, and he was allowed to leave on a season-long loan to Hull by head coach Daniel Farke.
Now, the talented youngster is beginning to show signs of his early promise again and has been rewarded for his crucial intervention with a prestigious accolade.
Photo by Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesJoe Gelhardt recognised for impressive form with Hull City
Hull secured a 3-2 victory against Birmingham, which was sealed by Gelhardt’s 93rd-minute goal to put the Tigers 3-1 ahead, before Jay Stansfield pulled one back in the 96th minute.
The Leeds loanee earned an 8.3 rating from FotMob for his role in the game, and he was also recognised by the Championship by being named in the Team of the Week.
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Gelhardt partners with Birmingham’s Stansfield up front, which is a well-deserved reward for his recent upturn in performances.
Although his time at Leeds appears set to come to an end, if Gelhardt can continue to score in the second tier, the Whites’ decision on his future may not be as straightforward as it once seemed.
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty ImagesHow long does Joe Gelhardt have left on his Leeds contract?
Gelhardt was awarded a new long-term deal with Leeds in the summer of 2022, after his string of impressive performances the previous season.
That deal was scheduled to run for five years, which means the former Wigan Athletic man is tied to Leeds until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Speaking in the official statement announcing Gelhardt’s new deal, ex-Sporting Director Victor Orta praised the forward, stating: “We’ve already seen some magical moments from him last season, none more so than the assist for Pascal’s goal in the last minute against Brighton, or his goal against Norwich.
“We believe that Joe can go on and have an amazing career, and we are delighted that he’s committed his long-term future to us.”
Although it appears unlikely that Orta’s prediction will come true for Gelhardt at Leeds, it is good to see a young talent starting to find their feet after a difficult few seasons.