In-form Leeds United under-23 striker Joe Gelhardt has shared his thoughts on the stunning brace he scored in the young Whites' 4-0 win over Liverpool on Sunday.
“I was happy to get two goals and an assist, but it’s all about the hard work from the team, from the defence, midfield, strikers and the goalkeeper who kept us in it at times as well, we all worked so hard and we got our rewards," he told the club's official website.
Speaking specifically of his two blockbuster finishes - one scored from around halfway with the goalkeeper caught off his line and the other powered into the top corner from range - the Liverpudlian added: “I liked the second goal.
“For the first one I saw the goalkeeper off his line and I thought ‘why not’ and thankfully it went in.
“For the second one, something inside me just said ‘shoot’, so I let it go and thankfully it went in as well."
Leeds' under-23s side are competing at the elite level of under-23s football for the first time since the Premier League Two was established and they have started the season strongly. Gelhardt has scored four goals in the competition thus far, whilst the team sits in fourth place with ten points, having won three, drawn one and lost one. Leaders Manchester City are only three points ahead of the young Whites side.
Gelhardt said of the competition: “The quality in the league is noticeable both technically and tactically, the teams are a step up, but I think all of the lads have done well with the step up overall.”
The club's concerted work in recruiting top youngsters in recent seasons - with Gelhardt one of the most high profile of these - has meant that the team has made the jump up in level look easy and they will hope this continues as the season goes on.
