Who is Joe Gelhardt? The Leeds starlet who is ready for role under Bielsa

It's been a disappointing campaign so far for Marcelo Bielsa's side who have won just one of their opening seven fixtures in the Premier League, leaving them sitting perilously close to the relegation zone.

Injuries haven't helped with the likes of striker Patrick Bamford ruled out, but thankfully in Joe Gelhardt the club have a player with a very bright future in front of here.

But who is the striker? We take a look at Gelhardt.

Joe Gelhardt: Profile

Born on May 4, 2002 in Liverpool, Gelhardt grew up on Merseyside before signing for Wigan Athletic as a 10-year-old.

A Liverpool supporter, the Reds twice had the opportunity to sign the player while he also spent time with both Everton and Tranmere Rovers.

After progressing through the youth set-up the striker was offered a scholarship in 2017 before making his first ever professional appearance as a substitute in an EFL Cup clash with Rotherham United on August 14, 2018.

Joe Gelhardt: First team experience and Leeds United

Following his debut in the EFL Cup, Gelhardt made 21 appearances for the Latics, scoring one goal which came in the Championship clash with Hull City over the next two years.

In 2019 with Wigan suffering relegation after a 12-point deduction, the 18-year-old completed a permanent move to Leeds United for a fee that could rise to £1.6million.

After two seasons shining in the under-23s, Gelhardt made his first team debut under Bielsa in the EFL Cup clash against Fulham, while the 19-year-old has also been included on the bench in three Premier League matches so far.

That journey into Bielsa's first team set-up has even seen him included in the England under-21 squad under Lee Carsley.

Joe Gelhardt: Role models and comparisons

A boyhood Liverpool fan, the striker was a huge fan of Fernando Torres and looked up to him for inspiration.

However onlookers during his football upbringing likened him more to Evertonian Wayne Rooney 'on account of his barrel-chested physique as well as his penchant for spectacular goals'.

If he can achieve anywhere near the sort of success that the Manchester United and England legend achieved, I'm sure he'll be very happy.

Joe Gelhardt: What has been said?

Anthony Barry, Gelhardt's first team coach with Wigan Athletic, said: "Joffy has the ability to become a very special player.

He has the capabilities to decide games and be destructive in the big moments, and not too many young players have that.

"To go with that, he is a great kid who loves playing football, and when you have that enthusiasm and appetite for the game, those types of players normally find a way to be successful."

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa said: "He's a player that always creates danger in a game.

"He's a player who's more linked with the finishing of chances rather than the creation of them, but he has resources to beat an opponent and he has a final shot, a finish that is very good."

Bielsa is renowned for working his players hard and Gelhardt acknowledged the benefits of that during an interview over the summer, saying: "I've lost eight kilograms. There was a photo on social media when I signed, and one with the [U23s Premier League 2 Division Two] trophy, and you can see it.

"When I came in here I didn't have much information on nutrition or fitness levels, so I learned a lot.

"When I was in the condition I was in before I came, I was running eight or maximum nine kilometres a game. I think my average last season with the 23s was 10 or 10.5km per game."