Joe Gelhardt is already putting pressure on Tyler Roberts for his place in the Leeds United first team.
That is the opinion of former Leeds striker Noel Whelan, who believes that Gelhardt's performances in training and the for the under-23s will begin to pay dividends with more opportunities in the senior team.
Leeds signed Gelhardt for £1 million from Wigan Athletic in the summer transfer window.
He is one of many young players who arrived at Elland Road as the club launched a recruitment offensive to bolster the under-23 squad, acquiring a string of talented teenage players from various clubs in the UK and Europe, including Sam Greenwood, Cody Drameh and Crysencio Summerville.
The striker has impressed since arriving, providing seven goals and two assists in 13 Premier League 2 games.
The 18-year-old has clearly caught Marcelo Bielsa's eye as he has been named on the bench for Leeds' last five Premier League matches, though he is yet to make a senior appearance for the club.
Nonetheless, his performances in training caused Patrick Bamford to compare him to Wayne Rooney, such has been the impression he has made.
"He reminds me – I don’t want to say the same level as Rooney – but he is the same kind of build as Rooney was," he told the Official Leeds United Podcast.
"A stocky lad, great finisher."
And Whelan believes that such praise means Gelhardt will be putting pressure on Roberts' place in the first team.
"That is some praise, absolutely. This is why we brought him into the football club," he told Football Insider.
"I think it will be very soon that he’ll get his first opportunity. I think he’ll be putting pressure on Tyler Roberts.
"Rodrigo is still not back to 100% fitness so maybe he deserves an opportunity in that role.
"He’s a great one for the future. I hear only good things from fans about how exciting he is and how good he is on the ball and his eye for goal. That’s all the characteristics of Wayne Rooney.
"But that is a big name to assess himself against right now. Now, he just needs to establish himself in this Leeds United side."
Bielsa has also heralded Gelhardt's finishing ability as the teenager continues to force his way into the Leeds set-up.
"He’s a player that always creates danger in a game," the Leeds boss said earlier this year. "He’s a player who’s more linked with the finalising of chances rather than the creation of them.
"He has resources to beat an opponent and he has a final shot, a finish that is very good."
