Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has told Marcelo Bielsa to promote Joe Gelhardt to the first-team squad following his performances for the U23's.
The 18-year-old arrived at the club in the summer from cash-strapped Wigan Athletic and has quickly made an impression behind the scenes for the Whites.
Meanwhile, in the first team, Patrick Bamford has been leading the line valiantly and Rodrigo is settling in after his arrival from Valencia.
However, Whelan believes that a striking option is needed on the bench and has named Gelhardt as the ideal man for the job.
“The kid has got talent and if you are good enough, you are old enough. It is as simple as that," he told Football Insider.
“He is excelling for the 23s and we do not have an out-and-out striking option on the bench so I would love to see him being integrated into that squad now. I think he is ready, I really do. There is no point in progressing him in the under-23s any longer quite frankly. He is flying there.
"We do not have another out-and-out striker and he can be another option off the bench. You have got to look at that because we are not blessed with a million and one strikers at the football club.
“We need to give Patrick Bamford a little bit of help. Give the young man a chance.”
In six appearances for the U23 side this season, Gelhardt has contributed three goals and a single assist to help the Whites sit second in the Premier League 2 Division 2 standings.
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