Here are your Leeds United evening headlines for Thursday, February 11.
Gelhardt debut tipped
Paul Robinson believes that Joe Gelhardt will be given his Leeds first-team debut soon after being a part of the matchday squad against Crystal Palace.
Gelhardt was on the bench for the FA Cup third-round defeat to Crawley Town, with Sam Greenwood given his debut instead, but Robinson believes that 18-year-old's chance is coming soon due to his excellent form for the under-23s.
"You’d think his debut is just round the corner now," he told MOT Leeds News. "He’ll get some minutes soon, if Leeds are winning or even if we’re losing and Bielsa takes Patrick Bamford off.
"It’s a huge progression for him already just getting on the Leeds bench. He’s only 18 years old but he’s had an absolutely fantastic season for the Under-23s, scoring goals.
"It shows that the manager is happy to reward the youngsters who are doing well. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he’s anywhere near starting a game yet but for him to be in and around the bench is huge, and coming on soon seems a definite.
"I wouldn’t mind seeing him getting a Championship loan next season, I think that could be the way forward for him."
Alioski looks forward to Pepe
Last time Arsenal and Leeds met, Gjanni Alioski antagonised Nicolas Pepe to the point that the Arsenal winger became so frustrated he veered head towards the Leeds defender and was sent off.
Arsenal and Leeds meet again on Sunday afternoon, and Patrick Bamford recently revealed that Alioski is looking forward to seeing the Ivorian once again.
"Do you know what he said in the changing room the other day?," Bamford told the official Leeds United podcast.
"He said 'I can't wait for Sunday'. I was like 'why?'. He was like 'I'm playing against my mate Pepe again.' I was like 'no way'."
Bamford's co-host Jermaine Beckford admitted that he would have hated to play against Alioski due to his tempestuous nature.
"He would wind me up so much playing against him," Beckford said. "He would just wind me up. He's just constantly ratting around all the time."
Bamford added: "He never shuts up either."
Zaha makes Bamford training claim
Wilfried Zaha told the On The Judy Podcast that Bamford used to spray shots left and right before banging finishes into the corner when playing in matches.
Zaha played with Bamford while at Palace and he recalls an amusing story of the Leeds striker, who currently has 12 Premier League goals on the season, the sixth-most in the entire division.
"Patrick Bamford," said Zaha. "But he’s amazing on the pitch. Some people are like that though. Patrick, he would just smash things, left, right, and then on the pitch, he would bags."
The 27-year-old has since flourished under Marcelo Bielsa, but as Zaha highlights, it has not always been the easiest ride.
