Leeds United forward Joe Gelhardt has missed out on winning the Premier League 2 Player of the Month prize despite scoring a wonder goal.
The 19-year-old forward had an outstanding September, with his performances for the Leeds U23s earning him a first-team place in the Carabao Cup, where he scored in the penalty shootout victory over Fulham.
What particularly caught social media’s attention though were the two sensational goals Gelhardt scored in Leeds U23s defeat of Liverpool U23s, including one from the halfway line. He also scored a brace in Leeds U23s 4-4 draw with Blackburn.
His particularly impressive month resulted in the Leeds forward being promoted from the England U20s to the England U21s squad this month, though it wasn’t enough to get him the Premier League 2 Player of the Month award.
He was shortlisted along with Folarin Balogun of Arsenal, Blackburn’s Sam Burns, Alfie Devine of Spurs, Baba Fernandes of Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, and Caleb Chukwuemeka of Aston Villa.
It was Chukwuemeka who grabbed the award, having been chosen by the Premier League's Football Development Panel from a shortlist created by PL2 coaches picking the best displays by an opponent in each of their league matches.
Striker Chukwuemeka, who is 19 years old, scored a hat-trick in a win of West Bromwich Albion followed up a week later with two goals and an assist in an 8-0 win at Stoke City.
Chukwuemeka is the second Premier League 2 player to win the accolade this season. The winner of the August award was Manchester City’s midfielder James McAtee.
